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Keep neighbours happy: Featherstone

12th November 1983
Page 5
Page 5, 12th November 1983 — Keep neighbours happy: Featherstone
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD relations may avoid much trouble and aggravation when environmental considerations come under scope of the licensing authority in the 1983 Transport Act, said Hugh Featherstone, Freight Transport Association director-general. TIM COBB reports.

Speaking to the Devon and Cornwall divisions of the FTA, Mr Featherstone highlighted the importance of the environmental aspects of the new act. "Environmental considerations are not automatically to be considered by the licensing authority — but only if objections are made by residents or others.

"So good neighbourhood relations can avoid a lot of trouble and aggravation," he said. He pointed out that this task could be difficult in large communities, but in rural areas, such as Devon and Cornwall, communications were easier.

"A serious effort to explain why the lorry is parked outside the driver's front door, or whether it would be more acceptable round the corner may therefore pay a handsome dividend."

He said that the new environmental law was 'mainly concerned with where an operator parks his vehicle and so now was the time to start talking to neighbours, not when a licence renewal application is made. Mr Featherstone said that this environmental change was massive and its potential impact should not be underestimated. He said that the FTA has accepted this change, but pointed out how much work it had done behind the scenes in trying to make it practicable, workable, fairer and less onesided.

"We shall see during the next few days, when the revised regulations are published, how successful we have been, " he said.

He said that an enormous res ponsibility would rest upon the licensing authorities as to how the new law would work. "They will have to decide in this highly subjective area whether objections from residents and others warrant the refusal of your licence, or transfer of your operating centre elsewhere, or the imposition of conditions on the hours during which vehicles may move."

And if change is necessary, then operators should be given time to work out the best move without prejudicing their businesses. "Licensing authorities should be giving notice of what they want to see by the next 0licence renewal date, rather than seeking instant change; and I am sure they will, "he said.


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