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LRUC 'won't work in Ireland'
Page 12
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Operators in Northern Ireland say the LRUC simply won't work Sally Nash repor.s.
OPERATORS IN Northern Ireland say if the Lorry Road User Charge (LRUC) system is introduced it will be impossible to enforce. Instead, they warn, it will affect traffic routes and ports and widen the competition gap with firms in the Irish Republic.
They are responding to a study commissioned by the Office of the First Minister in Northern Ireland into the economic impact of the LRUC on the Province.The study is designed to assess whether Northern Ireland businesses will be disadvantaged compared with their competitors in the Irish Republic and should therefore be exempt from the scheme.
According to the Office, business concerns centre on two main areas: economic consequences and enforceability.
A spokesman says: "They arise from our unique position in the UK of having a land border with an economy outside the scheme and the ability of NI hauliers to avail themselves of cheaper fuel in the Republic of Ireland."
Willie Oliver. senior national vice-chairman of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and MD of Oliver Transport Services, is not impressed by the proposals.
"It will be very difficult to operate here as we have over 100 road crossings into the South," he explains. "They might have to get us to buy temporary on-board units. What could happen is that we end up paying for the roads and operators in the Republic don't."
Oliver believes the way forward is a level playing field with harmonised fuel duty between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
RHA Scottish regional director Phil Flanders agrees that the sheer number of border crossings will make the LRUC impossible to enforce: "If drivers are having to pay by cash or credit card at every crossing you can't be sure that it is secure unless someone is based there permanently."
Both Oliver and Flanders believe operators in Northern Ireland are likely to change their routes if the charge is introduced, possibly shifting more traffic to Dublin. "It could prove cheaper to go via Dublin, even though it might be further," says Oliver.
Consultants are looking into the industry's comments they are due to report back to a government working group in the autumn.