MO' LONDON BAN BLUES Can I welcome David Holmes to
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the London Lorry Ban Stupid Prosecutions Club—one of the most thriving in London (CM 2531 January). His prosecution, for an alleged expired permit, was saner than many. I think of the prosecutions of drivers who, having complied with a 30mile detour required by the ban, allegedly went half a mile further on a restricted road than they
should have done or the member who made a typographical error when entering a vehicle's number plate details on a permit application.
I would urge him and all the fellow members of the club to bring these nonsenses to the attention of their MPs and, most importantly if London based, their local councillors. Most of these worthies still believe that lorry ban contraventions involve those using London as a short cut as opposed to those trying to service the capital.
But most of all write to Mayor Ken. Using our massive file of ban nonsenses we have persuaded him to make a review of the ban which, ironically, his GLC introduced 15 years ago, as part of his transport strategy. This is a good start but we have to ensure it is a real and fundamental review which also looks at the other hindrances, such as curfews to out-of-hours operations.
Subjecting trucks to daytime congestion charging suggests that more out-ofhours delivering is what the mayor wants. At the moment, however, there are too many sticks and not many carrots. John Outtridge Regional director, Freight Transport Association,