• The Freight Transport Association is furious that the Severn
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Bridge is planning to double its tolls from September this year. It says that higher tolls will burden industry in South Wales with millions of pounds in extra transport costs. The association plans to write to-the Secretary of State for Transport to ask for a public enquiry.
MI The Road Haulage Association has supported Roads and Traffic Minister Peter Bottomley's call for heavier fines for overloading offences, but it will be continuing its campaign for a defence of "due diligence" for offenders.
• John Gardner, the safety officer on the P&O ferry European Clearway, which is the subject of a Department of Transport enquiry following an engine room blaze, has resigned from the company because of gave concern about health and safety conditions.
• The M4 in London between junctions two and three was closed on Monday after the weather proved too hot for the expansion joints, causing cracks to appear on the motorway surface.
1111 There was a slight recovery for Dover ferries in June with 1.25 million passengers and 12,684 coaches using the services. Despite the reduction of ferry departures, 77,654 lorries used Dover — a drop of 3% over last year.
• P&O has begun an experiment at Dover aimed at reducing the waiting time for lorries in the port for customs clearance. A courier gathers the documentation from each lorry driver on board vessels bound for Dover, so when the lorries reach the customs check at the port, clearances should have already been obtained.