3LC lorry ban to stay idl the summer
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HE LONDON lorry ban is )w in force and is likely to st at least until the summer, llowing two separate re)rts submitted to the Lou boroughs.
But after June there may be Lore scope for Transport cretary Nicholas Ridley to w his powers to revoke the rti, once and for all.
Until the reports appeared, perators faced confusion .hether the ban would even contined in any meaningful win after the Greater Lonan Council is abolished on pril 1.
But the two new reports — Lie by the Association of undo', Borough Engineers id Surveyors (PLEBES), and le other by Westminster itv Council — both argue
that the GLC's staff should be retained until June.
The 33 boroughs were discussing the reports this week at the London Co-ordinating Committee.
Although the results were unavailable as CM went to press, it is widely believed that it would he very difficult for the boroughs to ignore the recommendations.
The reports state that even if some boroughs want to revoke the ban in their areas — which would take anything up to a year — the GLC's abolition will produce huge problems.
And keeping the GLC staff, possibly under the guise of the London Residuary Body, should be the solution until June. In June ALBES is due to report, borough by borough, on the ban's performance and progress.
Although Ridley would probably be cautious to act, alter his two recent and embarrassing High Court defeats over the ban, be will be armed with additional legal powers after the GLC's abolition to overturn the ban, Westminster Council says.
• The night and weekend ban rook effect 9pm Friday night (January 31) with minimal policing, similar to pavement parking enforcement, and still some of the repeater signs missing.
But around 36,000 vehicles had gained exemptions from the GLC although a significant proportion still had not received their permits and vehicle exemption plates.
The Freight Transport Association is advising any operators who have not yet received their permit or plates to give each driver a copy of their letter from the GLC which states that exemptions and plates have been agreed upon.