_orries out: GLC view
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CISIONS on the future of heavy lorries in London have been put for too long, according to the Greater London Council, which has nmissioned the Wood Inquiry to look into the matter.
n a draft submission which I be presented to the House of mmons transport committee uiry into transport in London, GLC has indicated that it coners that forecasts about the of a ban on heavy lorries are high.
he GLC suggests that it may more important to London for )vy lorries to be restricted, for some heavier industries i freight operations to move of the capital.
he submission, which trans/ committee chairman Dave tzel presented for full council )roval on Tuesday this week, 3 stresses that the GLC is insted in transferring as much ght as possible to rail and terway.
also says that the council ieves it will neither be pose nor acceptable for a road work to be built in London to sly the present level of dend, as any increase in cape( will generate additional vs and will move the burden to other sites.
To place heavy emphasis on emes to increase road cape • would provide little benefit, a a large amount of reIrces, and create considerable lronmental distress," says submission
he new council's view is that y those road schemes which duce a clear economic and .ironmental benefit should be 'Wed, as road construction only a limited part to play in alanced transport promme. And, it believes, the in
terests of pedestrians and cyclists should not be ignored.
It has adopted the North/ South route in Enfield, the Hayes by-pass, and Rochester Way relief road as priority projects, but plans to abandon some unspecified "undesirable and/or unrealistic" schemes once consultative procedures are exhausted. The alignment of other schemes, including the Docklands northern relief road, will be looked at again.
The GLC shares others' concern about the confused
spheres of responsiblity for London's transport, including the fact that roads are built by the Department of Transport, GLC, and borough councils, while police and traffic wardens come .under the control of the Metropolitan and City forces, and legislation is directed by the Home Office.
It recognises that the solutions to these confusions are as difficult as the problems themselves, but has offered to help discuss means of solving them and of overhauling the finance arrangements.
The GLC is due to give oral evidence before the Commons committee on December 16.