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Can't see the Wood

11th June 1983, Page 7
11th June 1983
Page 7
Page 7, 11th June 1983 — Can't see the Wood
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE DEEP DIVISIONS between representatives on the Wood Inq Greater London have prevented being able to use the final report writes the news editor.

Hopes that the final report would be in the hands of the GLC transport committee by June 1 — the original intention was to report back by Easter 1982 — have been dashed, and the chances of it being ready by July 1 look almost as slim.

A veil of secrecy has been hung around the inquiry panel, which represents transport, environmentalist, ecademic and trade union interests, but there is no doubt now that the Freight Transport Association's Reg Brown and Fine Fare's Stanley Baker (CM, June 4) will refuse to endorse all of the inquiry's findings.

Their disagreement surrounds the computer projections of the effects that eight, 16, 24, and 32.5-tonne lorry bans would have on traffic in Greater London.

The panel agreed on a formula earlier in its existence and applied this to the statistics on traffic which it drew from the recently published figures in the Greater London transport study.

The two industry representatives are understood to be unhappy about the figures which were produced by an overnight computer exercise, and they plan now to dissent from that section of the final report.

It remains to be seen just how the environmental and industry uiry into the effects of lorry bans in the Greater London Council from in the pre-general election period,

far they are prepared to go in departing from their colleagues' recommendations, but there are signs that the others are becoming frustrated by this latest, and potentially most damaging delay to the report.

Inquiry chairman Derek Wood, a Queen's Counsel and one-time chairman of Chislehurst Labour Party, must decide soon on the next move.

The industry has never supported the idea of the inquiry, although it has co-operated in its investigations, but the latest uncertainty over its publication is proving as frustrating to it as to the enemies of the heavier lorry.

This, however, is as much because it wants to press ahead with its own London Needs Lorries campaign, another planning meeting for which took place on Tuesday this week.


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