Roads may lose Labour delays LT 950,000 tons to canals
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policy decision IF PLANS for the improvement of waterways in Yorkshire materialize, 950,000 tons of traffic is likely to disappear from road transport by 1977. A Bill for the development of waterways linking the Humber with Leeds, Doncaster, Rotherham and Nottingham is being prepared by the British Waterways Board, and it is understood that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Mr A Crosland, has given it his blessing.
The scheme, which will cost £3m, is to be financed by business interests in Denmark and Yorkshire, and will include the development of an 80-acre site for an inland freight terminal for Continental import and export traffic.
The British Waterways Board claims that it has a minimum guarantee of 950,000 tons of traffic which will be transported by barge from a mother ship on the Humber to the inland ports. Mr J. Ashwell, commercial services officer of the Transport and General Workers' Union, told CM this week that he believed the plan had been developed to overcome delays at Hull docks caused through strikes.
Mr Ashwell said that both the union and the Road Haulage Association had written to local MPs voicing their concern over the extraction of traffic. "But," he said, "I believe that hauliers who will benefit from this scheme at the inland ports are among the British businessmen who have promised to help subsidize it."
One mother ship is already in service. But agreement has already been reached with the union that one-fifth of its cargo will pass through the docks. This does not mean however, that it will go by road. Barges are merely transferred from the mother ship to another barge before it moves into the waterway network. A MAJOR decision on future policy for London Transport fares was delayed this week by a meeting of the controlling Labour Party group on the Greater London Council. The group, which met on Monday, is known to have been considering a number of controversial solutions to LT current problems, which are costing London ratepayers £141/2m in fare subsidies this year alone.
Among ideas known to have been under discussion is an extensive flat-fare scheme, possibly involving a 5p fare on central London buses. At the same time swingeing curbs on car users in London have been suggested.
The Labour group has delayed its decision "for• several weeks" but there is speculation that it is waiting for action on LT workers' pay from Mr Michael Foot, the Employment Secretary. Measures to encourage the use of public transport would clearly be impracticable until LT's chronic staff shortage has been eased.