'4 Traffic Areas allow 40-tonnes'
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS are to be asked for an explanation of why some Traffic Areas are giving tacit approval for the operation of 39-tonne gross weight lorries, writes ALAN MILLAR.
The Association of Metropolitan Authorities has accused the Department of Transport of permitting the "back door" entry of 40-tonners by permitting overloads of 10 per cent before any action is taken against operators.
In a statement issued on Friday last week, AMA transport chairman Jack Graham said: "Only a year ago the Government appeared to give way to the tremendous pressure from all sides against letting 40-tonne lorries into this country.
"They made a great point of limiting the weight to 38 tonnes. Now all that's going for nothing," he added.
"I
n at least four Traffic our raffi
c orders have been given that prohibition and prosecution must take place only if a lorry is overloaded by more than 10 per cent. This effectively gives 40tonne lorries the freedom of the road," Mr Graham claimed.
According to the AMA, the Eastern, East Midland, Western and North Western Traffic Areas were operating such a policy, and North Western Licensing Authority Roy Hutchings confirmed to CM that all LAs have agreed to a common policy, but it is not quite as sweeping as Mr Graham alleged.
In order to prevent heavy overloads of 38 tonners, a specific weight has been included in the concessions.
Operators of vehicles overloaded by up to five per cent or 1,000kg (whichever is less) will escape with a warning; those between five per cent or 1,000kg and 10 per cent or 2,000kg will be prohibited from moving until the load is shifted; "I
n at least four Traffic our raffi
and LAs will press for prosecution for vehicles overloaded by more than that.
Effectively, this permits 39 tonne operation.
The AMA is especially angry that the concession on overloads has been made without any consultation with trading standards officers, and in asking for an urgent meeting with Transport Minister Lynda Chalker, Mr Graham said: "What we are not certain about is whether this is a betrayal of pledges given last year or a Whitehall bungle. The DTp is trying to justify the policy change on the grounds of saving money," Apparently, the DTp omitted to contact the trading standards officers.
Suspicions of a betrayal could well stem from the open Westminster secret that the Government would like 40-tonners to be authorised, not least because this would resolve one of the long-standing EEC arguments, Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley is known to favour a weight increase, but is saying nothing publicly for fear of inviting immediate opposition.