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New Noise and Vehicle Tests

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13th November 1959

Page 82

Page 82, 13th November 1959 — New Noise and Vehicle Tests

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MOISE, vehicle tests, goods-vehicle licensing, diesel smoke, land-acquisition powers and bridges were among the matters dealt with by. Mr. Ernest Marples, Minister of Transport, in reply to questions in the House of Commons last week.

Noise ,Tests: Technical officers of the Ministry of Transport were collaborating' with the international Standards Organization to establish practical methods of measuring traffic noise, said Mr. Marples. New systems of measurement were provisionally agreed at a meeting in Stuttgart last summer. In common with other countries, Britain was testing them. A new series of tests was to he carried out on a wide range of production vehicles, beginning last week.

Vehicle Tests Sows: Mr. Marples hoped within a few days to approve the regulations governing the appointment of garages and local authorities to undertake tests of vehicles more than 10 years old. He intended to start the statutory test on a voluntary basis not later than the end of February. He would allow reasonable time before making it an offence to use a 10year-old vehicle without a test certificate. Licensing Inquiry? Mr. G. Nabarro (Con., Kidderminster) asked the Minister what action he proposed to take on licensing. as a result of the publication of the report of the Ministry inquiry into goods transport. When Mr. Marples replied that he was not proposing to take any action, Mr. Nabarro pointed out that the present licensing system dated from the early 1930s, when road conditions were entirely different from those today. Mr. Marples promised to study the Ministry report.

Diesel Smoke: He promised to examine also a suggestion by Mr, Gresham Cooke (Con., Twickenham) to simplify the task, of the courts in establishing that excessive smoke was emitted by an oil-engined vehicle. Mr. Gresham Cooke proposed that the Construction arid Use Regulations should be amended by adding a reference to "annoyance or inconvenience " in Clause 79. He said it was almost impossible, under present conditions, for the police to prosecute, because they had to prove that the smoke caused danger. injury or damage. Quicker Road Building: Answering Members who urged the speedier construction of c32 roads by the reduction of delays in the preliminary stages. the Minister said he hoped that Parliament would support him if he had to ask for new statutory powers.

Seeing for Himself: Mr. Marples said he proposed to see for himself the latest methods of design and construction of bridges being adopted abroad. He would be accompanied and advised by independent leading bridge designers from Britain. He had asked the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers to nominate advisers. Motorway Delay: Difficulties over statutory processes had prevented the construction of the Bristol-Birmingham motorway being started two months ago, said the Minister. Meanwhile, experience on other motorways had suggested some changes in specification, and contracts had to be revised. Tenders were returnable by January 8. Work was expected to begin next March.

The 22-mile Ross spur from Ross-on-Wye to the A38 road south of Worcester should be opened next August. The Queenhill Bridge across the River Severn would be completed in November next year, but one carriageway would be in use in August. Work on the 28-mile extension towards Birmingham should begin next March.

RAILWAY'S ROAD STATISTICS

THE road fleet of British Railways 1 totals 15,358 vehicles, made up of 4.831 rigids, 52 tractors, 10,475 articulated units and 29,800 semi-trailers. This information is given in the latest edition of "Facts and Figures About British Railways."

During 1958, railway road vehicles carried more than 23m. tons of goods and more than 167m. parcels. Maintenance is carried out at 18 depots and 210 outstations.

BIG CLAIM ON FORD

THERE is to be another meeting next Tuesday between the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., and representatives of 22 unions who are claiming higher wages, a shorter

working week and three weeks' annual paid holiday. An offer is reported to have been made by the company on Monday.