Bill relief
Page 3
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INDUSTRY pressure looks certain to persuade the Government to drop its controversial Transport Bill proposals for ancillary operating sites to he included in operator licence applications.
Although none of the desired amendments was incorporated in clause 45 of the Bill at the committee stage, Junior Transport Minister Lynda Chalker has indicated that she is sympathetic towards Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Assciciation concern about the original proposals' threat to existing operators' businesses.
ETA director general Hugh Featherstone told CMthat he expects the Government to drop the ancillary operating sites propsal entirely, and also to apply some qualifications to the individuals or organisations who will be able to object to the granting or renewal of an 0licence.
It is not clear yet what these qualifications might be, but one possibility being suggested is that only those living near the proposed operating base would be entitled to object. That could still mean a substantial number of environmental objections.
One battle which the industry has lost was for compensation to be paid to operators who lost their 0-licences for environmental reasons. The Government considered this to be unworkable, as well as a potential drain on public funds.
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