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Norris plans a morning ban
Page 16
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Operators face more restrictions in
London — Guy Sheppard reports.
LONDON'S CONSERVATIVE mayoral candidate wants to ban large trucks from the morning rush hour in a bid to ease congestion.
Steven Norris. a former director-general of the Road Haulage Association. says any truck over 18 tonnes will be banned from central London between 7.00am-10.00am if he ousts Ken Livingstone as mayor in nine months time.
The restriction could be extended to smaller commercial vehicles if it proves effective. according to a Tory spokesperson, who adds that it is a small price for hauliers to pay because Norris is committed to scrapping congestion charging.
Norris's comments came as a report was published indicating that around 50,000 drivers a day are avoiding the charging zone.
But RHA chief executive Roger King warns that such a ban would cause serious problems. particularly as there is already a nighttime ban on lorry traffic in the capital: "When people start talking about banning to solve traffic problems it is not very helpful to the debate."
Lyndon Clegg. assistant transport manager at Jonen Shipping in Epping. describes Norris's ban as unworkable: "Most of the supermarkets deliver at that time of day. It always amazes me how some people think stuff gets into the shops.Jonen has 10 trucks based in Epping. including four over 18 tonnes.
Jenny Jones, London's deputy Mayor, is calling for an extension of the congestion charge zone and a tripling of fees paid by lorries in central London.
Jones. a Green Party member of the London Assembly, wants three concentric zones to be set up with trucks being charged 115 for entering central London, £10 for inner London and £5 for outer London. She describes Norris's plan to scrap congestion charging as an "outrageous waste of taxpayers' money" and "ideology gone mad".
There were also reports this week that Livingstone is planning to double the size of the charging zone but with the introduction of a free route through the centre (Edgware Rd-Park Lane-Grosvenor Place-Vauxhall Bridge Road) and along the Westway.