No city centre lorry ban likely
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from our political correspondent
• Transport Minister Mr John Peyton is unlikely to accede to the growing demands for statutory measures to ban heavy lorries from city centres.
He plans to make a statement shortly on proposals to alleviate the problem, but takes the view that traffic management is the key.
The onus is expected to be placed on local authorities to designate lorry routes, and enforce the powers they already have.
Positive measures to make room for commercial vehicles in cities and towns will need to be coupled with more severe restrictions in specific areas. Although local authorities will have the principal role, the Minister believes more could be done by retailers by making better arrangements.for the reception and delivery of goods.
Haulier,;. too. he feels, have a duty to help by re-routeing vehicles to avoid areas of congestion, to improve their premises to provide easy access, by using offside parking wherever possible, and making greater use of booking systems at the docks.
But the indications are that all this can be done only by co-operation and consultation. and not by legislation.