COUNCILS OF WAR AND PEACE
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• The Association of Metropolitan Authorities is not renowned for its love of trucks, but the new national policy report it is hoping to adopt this week shows encouraging signs of a more pragmatic approach.
The Labour-led association, like the Labour Party itself, seems to be presenting a more reasonable and reasoned face. One can easily quibble with its assertion that HGVs do not pay their way, but one should surely applaud its calls for more road spending, better bridges and sensible commercial vehicle speed limits.
It is an amazing step forward to read that the AMA is prepared to accept 40 tonners, if its recommendations are implemented. There is still a long way to go, and the adoption of all Armitage Report recommendations (more lorry bans, more highway maintenance spending and increased research into the full costs of road damage and the environmental impact of heavy trucks) is a daunting prospect. But it would not be impossible.
The AMA does let its prejudices show, however, when it woefully under-estimates the vital role the truck plays in everyday life. For instance, its report says: "Those who are most likely to enjoy any possible consumer benefits through cheaper goods (transported by road door-to-door) are less likely to be the same people who suffer from heavy lorry traffic." Why?
Perhaps hauliers should start pestering their local councillors, telling them that their inner city depots and trunking sites are vital to the city's economic lifeblood. Work together with the AMA's member authorities and do not let them regard the haulage industry as a necessary evil.
Wars start when the talking stops; but wars end when the dialogue begins again.