Stop the heavies
Page 18
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL and conservation organisation, the Civic Trust, has told the Armitage Inquiry that road freight transport is environmentally harmful, and that it is a problem getting worse, not better.
Giving oral evidence last week, Civic Trust director Michael Middleton said that the recent years have seen "an astonishing growth in the use of heavy lorries and that we must look into the environmental effects while there is still time."
The Civic Trust's Nigel Haigh said that his organisation (which comprises 1300 local groups) reflects a widespread "deep feeling and concern" about the heavy lorry.
He maintained that the current heavy lorries did not meet their environmental social costs, and so was even more hostile towards the EEC proposals for 40 tonners, even if they did have five axles.
Although these would bp Less damaging per tonne carried they are more damaging per passage because of their extra axle, said Mr Haigh.
The increase in maximum length from 15m to 15.5m did not worry the Civic Trust since many operators exceed the limit already.
Mr Middleton said the gist of the Civic Trust's case was to stabilise the growth of the heavy lorry, principally by not allowing even heavier ones and by increasing taxes and restrictions on existing ones.