Ban: trailers exempt
Page 6
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OPERATORS do not have to modify their trailers to get exemption permits for the London lorry ban, the Greater London Council has now agreed.
This is contrary to widespread expectation that operators would have to pay for the quietening of their tail-lifts, trailer doors and refrigeration equipment to help get exemption permits for their vehicles.
Trailer rental companies are now being told by the GLC that they do not need to fill in permit application forms for their trailers. Before, the GLC was reserving judgment on the issue.
The Freight Transport Association — which has pushed for the trailer clarification — has hailed the news as a "complete turnround" from the GLC. It is telling members that they do not need to give the GLC details of their semi and drawbar trailers.
The ETA's planning and traffic services manager, 1)011 McIntyre, told CM: 'Trailers are not part of the permit system. And if an operator gets a permit it will cover the tractive unit and any trailer attached to it_ "It is out of order For a GLC officer to ask an operator about trailer modifications," he added.
And as a sign of worsening relations between the ETA and the GLC, GLC freight
unit planner Bob Carr repl -The ETA's advice is not its members' interes Operators don't have discuss anything — th routeing arrangements, if d will lose jobs through the 1 — but it's in their interests do so. We're ready to lis to what they have to say.''
The trailer modification sue came to light at the El' recent country-wide sonic', which were held to h members fill in the permit plicacion form. Menai could not find a proper pl to give the GLC the tra details.
'I-he GEC denies ti trailers were forgotten wl the form was designed.