Book reviews
Page 61
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"London — the heartless ty" — published by Thames
levision, price £1, was ommissioned by Thames for s London Looks Forward roject. Its authors, David Vilcox and David Richards, ave presented, in 170 ages, summary facts, and .enchant opinions, of repreentative political and econmic thinkers.
THE BOOK, introduced by eter Hall, professor of Georaphy, Reading University, avers such subjects as planing, earning a living, moving round the city, home finding nd the structural changes — icluding the likely worsening f public transport — in future ears.
The sixfold growth in Lonon's population in the 19th entury explains almost everyling about the problems the 19tropolis has struggled with 1 this century. As long ago as 905, the Royal Commission n London Traffic heard expert vidence on the need for wide )ads encircling London at a idius of 12 miles from Charing ross. The post-war plans of bercrombie, first projected in 943, made little progress as homes before roadsbecame
politically attractive clarion tll for politicians.
The Labour Party, controlling ie Greater London Council in 965, wanted three ring roads serve the London area and iese proposals were included
the Greater London Developont Plan of 1969. Later, these ans were opposed by that 3rty, as well as by many .aople of all parties who shrank DM the vast cost and the wironmental disruption the ads would have created.
The alternative strategy, Oing for improved public ansport, is, itself, under view as its ever-increasing )st and frequent unreliability iggests the widsom and econny of people living near their bs. Future problems, such as :arce and expensive fuel for ad transport and the current .eoccupation of politicians ith the re-generation of inner 1ies will perhaps prove too fficult to solve.
But this book was worth riting, though the final lapter, Manifesto for London, urging major industrial development in dockland, is not, regrettably, everyone's pana cea. J.D.
Li MR VVOODWARD is transport services executive with the Plessey Co Ltd, and his book deals mainly, with the few main divisions of goods vehicle operation. Part of its consists of one study: here's a precis of a couple of pages: requirement twice-weekly deliveries to shop
in city; product — electrical goods, max weight of item 136kg (3001b); routes — sometimes two in one day, max mileage 40; size — up to six deliveries of part-loads. Vehicle specification plan: a) volume; ideal body length 6.71m (22ft), with internal 16sqm (180sqft) and free of wheel arches: b) weight: never above 4,064kg (4 tons); c) design requirements: easy unloading of items up to 152kg (3 cwt); box vehicle; internal height allowing driver to stand; tail-lift with 500kg (10cwt) max capacity; Joloda tracking; high power output of engine with low smoke level; syncromesh; easy access to engine and chassis components.
Possible solution: Leyland Terrier TR950-4.35m wheelbase (14ft 31/4in) chassis cab with six-cylinder 6-98 DV diesel engine. Box body in light alloy with three sliding doors on each side and tail-lift. Body length 22ft. Gvw 9,650kg (9.5 tons), payload plus body 6,525kg
(6.42 tons). J.F.D.
Li OF more interest to the freight forwarder engaged in the international carriage of freight in unit loads than to the operator carrying containers between inland depots and the docks, the yearbook contains a wealth of information about shipping facilities for containers. This includes details of port facilities and projected port improvements in Europe, America and the Middle and Far East.
It also includes maximum permitted vehicle weights and dimensions for many coun tries. J.J.
[1 FOR the first time, this useful guide to manufacturers and operators in the freight transport industry includes a list of the leading tipper hauliers among the updated sections on transport fleets.
As well as indicating market trends in transport operation and vehicle manufacture, it also includes details of recent road traffic legislation.
Though the publisher claims that the information contained in the yearbook has been revised after a large scale mail-inquiry operation, one of the small parcels carriers that CM staff telephoned at random had not been at the address shown or held the telephone . number given for four years. J.J.