TAKING BACK THE REINS
Page 22
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I have worked in the road transport industry for a considerable lime and I have always been proud to be involved with it.
That pride has taken a dent recently since we have allowed a campaign, on which land many others have worked tirelessly in order to achieve parity with our Continental European competitors, to be hijacked by the People's Fuel Lobby. This played straight into Whitehall's hands, Two FIHA meetings I have attended since September's protest have served to confirm the view that this industry is like the Bismark—big, powerful, but rudderless. The two main trade associations have failed the industry miserably.
!propose to set up a new trade support body, the like of which the UK road transport sector has never seen. This will be a pro-active body which will represent all sectors of the industry.
Rather than being a toothless paper tiger, this body would be a gentle giant, showing respect to people and groups it encounters during the course of its duties, and standing firm for the industry when the reverse is true.
A crucial difference between this body and any other claiming to represent the industry will be our open hostility to illegal operators--in fact, we will openly campaign against them.
I would appreciate industry comments on this proposal. Duncan Maclean, 4 Reynolds Way, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 511.