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ARE WE READY FOR WINTER?
Page 10
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So far so good. One week into December and the weather, apart from a shower of rain here and there and some fog, has been relatively kind. Let's hope it stays that way for, despite reassuring words from the Highways Agency, we're not altogether convinced that come snow time the roads won't grind to a halt.
On page 50 this week we've been out to see the people responsible for the trunk roads of the UK and in fairness they seem better prepared than in the past. However, that's only half the situation our major worry concerns those roads that are no longer designated trunk roads. Who's looking after them? Well, 38% of the trunk road network is in the process of passing back to the local authorities from the Highways Agency. This means that local councils, whose budgets are already stretched, will be charged with gritting their roads. This is not good. While decentralisation may generally be deemed a good thing, the national road network should be centrally managed.
The whole de-trunking issue is a worry, for not only will it mean resources are stretched in the winter, but it will empower local authorities to introduce all manner of bus lanes, weight limits and other lunacy on major arterial roads. Roads such as the A4123 through Birmingham and the M32 in Bristol are designated for de-trunking; our prediction is that we're going to face more congestion misery.
"We want road transport to be recognised for its contribution to the economy"
• Our letter campaign to parliament highlighting the problems of truck parking has met with a decent response from the MPs, as you can see on pages 8-9. There was even a response from the transport minister himself, David Jamieson. But it's all very well getting a few choice words -we want action and our efforts aren't going to stop there. Were hoping to follow up by taking MPs to some of the UK's overcrowded truckstops and laybys to brief them on this major problem. We want the road transport industry to be recognised for the contribution it makes to the UK economy and, slowly but surely, we'll drive the message home.