Answering back
Page 46
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• It is difficult to know how to respond to the letter consisting mainly of insults from MP Fisher (CM 24-30 Oct).
Transport 2000 is not out to attack the livelihood of Mr Fisher or anyone else in road haulage. I made it quite clear in the interview (CM 26 Sept-2 Oct) that we recognise that most freight, being local, will always go by road. in many cases freight is more important than other road traffic such as commuter cars.
What I said was that road freight transport causes environmental costs through noise, pollution and casualties, and that instead of these costs being borne directly by people living near lorry routes (or by the natural environment), they should be brought home to the industry through extra taxes and proper enforcement of speed and
weight limits, drivers' hours and vehicle maintenance regulations. These are unlikely to add much to costs in the shops, since transport costs are typically only 5-7% of total costs. I thought that hauliers welcomed measures to drive cowboys out of the industry; I was clearly being naive.
But I doubt if anything we say will affect Mr Fisher, who clearly doesn't believe that there are any environmental problems associated with road freight. He illustrates perfectly the comment from Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis of Cardiff Business School on the same page that the haulage industry has appeared to dismiss environmental pressures as a passing phase, not requiring much attention". Mr Fisher should wise up — Transport 2000 and other green groups are moderate by the standards of general public opinion.
In case Mr Fisher is interested in a genuine discussion on environmental issues, I'd like to invite him to a conference Transport 2000 is running on Freight Policy and Environment on 22 November in London. For details or to reserve places (price £70), phone us on 071-388 8386 (fax 071-388 2481).
Judith Hanna Assistant director, Transport 2000, London.
Commercial Motor welcomes readers' letters, which can be phoned in on 081-661 3689 (24-hour service). Letters may be edited for length and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor.