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. on size, design and routeing in new Road Traffic Bill
from our political correspondent • A new Road Traffic Bill is to be introduced by the Government in the next session of Parliament. It will increase powers to control the size, design and routes of heavy commercial vehicles.
The Bill will also make provision, although it will not be acted upon immediately, for the introduction of a system of road pricing for private and commercial vehicles in towns and cities.
Announcing his decision at the Conservative Party's conference in Blackpool, Mr Geoffrey Rippon, Secretary of State for the Environment said the -juggernaut" had to be contained.
Britain would not be dependent upon Common Market regulations to tackle the problem.
"I can assure you it can and will be contained by our own national legislation." said Mr Rippon.
Details of the new Bill still had to be worked out but its provisions would "keep up the pressure on the design of lorries to make them more tolerable, constrain the composition of engine fumes and, strengthen controls of noise".
The Minister confirmed privately after his speech that he was considering road pricing together with greater provision for lorry and car parking, and the first step towards a national route network for heavy commercial vehicles.
"We intend to keep heavy traffic off unsuitable roads. The noise, congestion and danger caused by juggernaut lorries have got to be contained.
"For this purpose we need an adequate road system and that is why we are giving a high priority to the strategic road plan and the provision of new motorways."
Mr Rippon said he intended to get a lorry routeing system outside towns and provide more, proper lorry parks.