Anger at Labour plans Swains is cleared
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by Amanda Bradbury ▪ Ilauliers have reacted angrily to the Labour Party's pledge to double the amount of long-haul freight carried by rail during the term of one Parliament.
In its policy document In Trust for Tomorrow published on Tuesday (19 July), the party spells out its plans to reduce haulage by road: • Road building should be cut, with a block on new road schemes pending a full review of the roads programme; • Plans to widen the M25 should be scrapped; • Minimum standards of fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions should be tightened up. The party's review of the roads programme aims to reverse what Labour calls the "predict and provide" policy of the Department of Transport. This would be replaced with a full assessment of the need for new road works, taking into account other non-road alternatives.
But a party spokesman says it will give priority to road maintenance, improving safety standards and design and providing essential bypasses.
There is also an appreciation of the need to clear the roads of non-trunk traffic, says Labour, although its long-term aim is replace some road haulage with more environmentally acceptable options.