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Better Conditions at Docks Promised by Executive

16th December 1949
Page 36
Page 36, 16th December 1949 — Better Conditions at Docks Promised by Executive
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

HOPE that facilities for road haulage 'vehicles at ports would be improved was expressed by Mr. J. Donovan, a member of the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive during a discussion at a recent meeting of the Institute of Transport's Yorkshire Section, in Leeds.

A critic complained that at many British ports, some formerly railwayowned and some otherwise, there was good access for railway transport, but poor facilities for road transport. He referred particularly to Middlesbrough and Garston, where, at many wharves, a road vehicle could not get alongside a ship.

Mr. Donovan replied that the railway companies built docks primarily to facilitate the use of the railways, at a time when road transport was negligible. Amenities at Middlesbrough were anything but satisfactory, but under Section 66 of the Transport Act, a scheme was being prepared to make the Tees-side port facilities suitable for modern requirements.

Improvisations included the use at Middlesbrough, for the shipment of export cars, of a temporary road made during the war for the embarkation of Tanks. Improvement of facilities at Garston would have high priority when the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive took over the docks.

"As an Executive," Mr. Donovan continued, "we accept responsibility to provide facilities whereby three forms of inland transport have access to our docks—road, rail and waterways. Where' facilities for road transport are lacking, we must do what we can to remedy this. It might be a case of improvisation in the earlier stages, because we cannot go into big capital outlay at the present moment, but certainly in our long-term programme we will have to make provision for this need."

An operational link between river transport and short-distance road haulage, for handling long-distance traffic, was mentioned by a speaker, who asked why this form of competition with nationalized transport should be able to use the rivers fre,e of charge.

By River and Road Traffic from Hull to Leeds, he said, was being carried by river as far as Selby, via the Humber and Ouse, and then transferred for completion of the journey by road transport, which could be operated to Leeds by hauliers working within the 25-mile limit, Even coasting vessels from East Anglia, avoiding payment of dock dues at Hull and Goole, were coming inland by river almost to Selby, and then handing their traffic over to road transport, for delivery in the West Riding of Yorkshire by hauliers operating within the 25-mile limit, The speaker suggested that, in the interests of nationalized transport, some restriction should be imposed on this form of competition, or payment of "an adequate toll" should be required from these users of the rivers.

Tags

People: J. Donovan
Locations: Leeds

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