Action, not words Later this spring our Government should produce
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its White Paper on transport, presumably with an emphasis on the integration of the various modes for movement of passengers and freight, plus encouraging a reduction in car use.
As I understand it, the Government's current policy is to continue lifting the price of road fuels and then to use some of this revenue to fund integrated public transport systems for passengers and to put in place the infrastructure to accommodate switching freight from road to rail and so on. Most people will hope this works, although presumably they don't like the pain of extra tax.
Re-education of the population is a difficult, if not impossible task, especially when it involves persuading millions of us to leave our beloved cars at home and use public transportugh!—or bicycles, and be crushed to death by a 38tonne artic...no thanks!
How is the Government going to stop car owners clogging up every bit of road they can find?
Ironically the public— mostly those in cars—complain about large trucks. Admittedly there are lots of HGVs to be seen on the motorways and trunk roads, but surely that's where they should be. In any case, their numbers are certainly less than they were 20 years ago.
So it's not trucks that are at the root of the problem, although getting more freight on to rail and even waterways is a priority.
Unfortunately our rivers and canals don't lend themselves to the task as well as those on the Continent. But, where practical, putting in a new canal, revamping old routes and dredging out rivers might not be such a crazy idea, as water transport is cost-effective. And sitting by a waterway is certainly more pleasant than sitting in a layby!
Everybody will argue their corner, but anyone who has the misfortune to use the M25, the M6 near Birmingham, or tries to drive into somewhere like Cambridge will agree that some action has to be taken.
So, Mr Prescott, let's hope your White Paper is radical—not the usual fudge that does nothing. The message is: we need action, not words.
It will be a miracle if something positive is achieved, but then some of us would be happy just to see the impossible—though not at once, of course.
RG Rooks, Bacton Transport, Stowmarket.