T.R.T.A. to Stress Reasons for C-licensed Transport
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CONCERNED at the lack of general appreciation of why trade and industry runs its own road transport, the Traders Road Transport Association is holding a Press conference in London on May 27 to put its case to influential newspapers and magazines. Invitations, in the name of the president, Mr. K. C. Turner, have been sent to the national and leading provincial newspapers, political and other general opinion-forming magazines and to the trade and technical Press.
The T.R.T.A. says that the important contribution made by road transport is too often submerged by an unfavourable image arising from cases of bad vehicle maintenance, accidents and obstruction. It feels it is time that Britain's goods vehicle fleet was viewed objectively, as a vital instrument of economic advance.
The Association says that many questions need to be answered: does Britain need If m. C-licensed vehicles? Do the railways provide a practical alternative? Do heavy lorries really have a better accident record than other traffic? Was Buchanan right? Are goods vehicles a public menace Or is The motorist prejudiced by selfish considerations? To what extent do trade and industry have a vested interest in opposing public operation of their vehicles'? What would the country lose by removing goods vehicles from our roads—and what precisely would it gain?
These and many more questions on goods vehicle operation and its future are to he discussed at the Press conference. After Mr. K. C. Turner has given an opening talk, discussion will be thrown open between officers of the T.R.T.A. and the Press.
It may be recalled that on April 24 The Commercial Motor's editorial called for the two main goods vehicle operator associations to adopt a more positive and direct approach towards the national Press in an attempt to improve understanding of the industry.
New MI Service Area Opened: On Wednesday the first major part of the new motorway service area on M1 at Toddington, Beds, was opened. This comprises two transport cafes—one at each side of the road—petrol-filling stations, vehicle parks, toilets and so on.