RHA urges post haste on Armitage
Page 13
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
4ULIERS have been urged to fill their MPs' postbags with letters rout the Armitage Report before Transport Secretary Norman rwler puts forward proposals based on the Armitage Report.
Speaking in Teesside this eek, Road Haulage Association 3tional chairman Ken Rogers lid: "It is a fact of Parliamenlry life that the Members' astbag is often the most im po rint factor in the way he takes Bcisions.
"It is therefore essential that aulage companies throughout le country should contact their IP with a view to making the icts of the matter clear to him." Borrowing a CM headline, Mr ogers said the Armitage Reort, which hauliers had anticiated with some optimism, was much like the Curate's Egg ood in parts."
He described the proposed inrease in gross vehicle weights s the most important of Armi3ge's recommendations but he dded "there were many other peasures which will be much .3ss welcome to the haulage inustry, and I would refer to the roposals to increase the mount of tax paid by Iperators."
Referring to the proposals for prry action areas, Mr Rogers vent on to accuse Armitage of naking the haulage industry "liable for the costs of moving industrial plants to sites which are seen as being less environmentally sensitive".
He drew this point from a paragraph in the Report which says that tax collected from lorry operators whould be used "in the worst cases of intense local nuisance by a specific generator of lorry traffic, compensation for discontinuance action taken by a planning authority in respect of a site with planning permission or existing use rights".
In a press notice issued last December with the Armitage Report, this paragraph was translated to read: "Special subsidies to be paid for ... exceptionally relocating badly sited factories and other generators of lorry traffic. Hauliers to pay costs in higher taxation."
Mr Rogers predicted that, following the January debate in the House of Commons and the submission of reactions from many bodies and individuals, Transport Secretary Norman Fowler would produce a White Paper shortly, detailing the Government's proposals.
He said it was essential that all MPs become aware of the industry's view, and said: "It is essential that this information is laid forcibly before the law makers so that reasoned decisions are achieved."