Road Transport Topics
Page 48
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In Parliament
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
R.H.A. AND LOSS OF CLAIMED TONNAGE.
THE Minister was asked last week if he would consider representations by the Road Haulage Association as to the hardship caused to many roadtransport concerns through the loss of claimed tonnage when modernizing a fleet with lighter vehicles. All that he could reply was that the licensing of goods vehicles was within the discretion of the Licensing Authorities, from whose decision there was a right of appeal to the Appeal Tribunal. He had no power to intervene.
HIGH COST OF HAULIERS' APPEALS.
THAT the cost of appeals, made by hauliers against the Commissioners' refusals of licences, was excessive, was pointed out to the Minister last week. On being asked what steps he would take to meet this situation, Mr. BoreBelisha confessed to having never previously received any representation regarding the cost of appeals. He explained that the fees payable were fixed by an Order made by the Tribunal and approved by the Treasury in accordance with the Act. It has been further represented to the Minister that, owing to decisions given by the Appeal Tribunal, a trader no longer had the right to choose whether his goods should be sent by road or by rail. Mr. HoreBelisha replied that he was not aware of any decision to this effect by the Appeal Tribunal, but he did not say whether he would receive direct representations on this question.
EXTRA £500.000 FOR WEAK BRIDGES.
CO1NC1DENT with its policy of giving practical inducement to Highway Authorities to abolish levelcrossings, the Minster of Transport is speeding up its movement to secure the adaptation or reconstruction of all main-road bridges to cope with heavy commercial road traffic. This is the chief consideration in the Minister of Transport's decision to make an immediate additional provision of 4500,000 out of the Road Fund for grants to schemes for the reconstruction of weak bridges, and for other urgent improvements with which Highway Authorities are ready to proceed immediately. Grants are being issued at once at the rate of 75 per cent. towards 25 bridge schemes, estimated to cost in all about £400,000. These are additional to about 80 schemes for reconstructing weak bridges or replacing level-crossings, at a total cost of nearly £670,000, which the Minister has already approved during the year. The consideration of further applications is also far advanced. All this extra half million is being.made available for expenditure between now and the end of next March.
KEEPING OF RECORDS—REVISED REGULATIONS?
THE Transport Advisory Council has forwarded certain advice to the Minister regarding the proposed amendment of the regulations relating to the keeping of records, and as a result it is proposed to publish, so soon as possible, the draft of revised regulations. Before laying down a new regulation on this subject the Minister will consult with representative organizations.
SKIDDING AS A CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS.
REFERRING, in the House of Commons last week, to the fact that skidding was given as a main or contributory cause of 200 accidents in which motor vehicles were involved during the past year, the Minister asserted that he did everything in his power to encourage the provision of non-skid surfaces on the roads, whilst tyres on motor vehicles were required, by the regulations, to be free from any defect which might cause danger.