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Threshold of Transport Revolution,' sa

22nd November 1963
Page 22
Page 22, 22nd November 1963 — Threshold of Transport Revolution,' sa
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Truck, Lorry

" IT is no exaggeration to say that we

I stand on the threshold of a transport revolution," said Mr. H. R. Featherstone, national secretary of the Traders Road Transport Association, on Wednesday; he was speaking at a meeting of the central London area.

Apart from the Beeching Report, he said, there was the Geddes Committee. and the Buchanan Report expected shortly, and superimposed on this "formidable list" was the prevailing political uncertainty and the implication for transport of the next General Election.

Mr. Featherstone added: "A lot of misguided people are motoring around carrying ' Marples Must Go' placards. Let there be no mistake about it; there are an awful lot of people who, for one reason or another, would willingly carry a slogan 'The heavy lorry must go '.

"We cannot really be surprised that this state of mind exists. The overloaded lorry, the slow-moving lorry, the lorry emitting black smoke—although in aggregate only a small percentage of the goods vehicle fleet of the country—project an image and provoke a reaction which takes no account of the vast majority which are a credit to fleet operators.

"Ma'important, the reaction takes no account of the fact that the lorry has to 1..,e there. The motorist who is ;mpatient with the slow-moving lorry

expects to get his petrol, beer and cigarettes in the next town—supplied to the shops by road. If he is unfortunate enough to break down and urgently needs a spare part, he would be the first to complain if the part did not arrive promptly—by road.

"His wife expects to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, collected from market by road. If her washing machine breaks down she wants prompt repairs—by road. And if she sends her washing to the laundry, she expects that the road vehicle will return it on the day and more or less at the time required.

"The list is endless. The point about all of them is that they have to go by road—and usually by C-licensed vehicle. They make nonsense of the idea that you can force traffic from road to rail."

Of the significance of the Geddes Committee, Mr. Featherstone said it was fortunate that the whole question of road transport was, in the first instance, to be reviewed carefully and impartially, free from the prejudice and ignorance which would be inevitable if no independent committee was appointed. After referring to the Committee's task, he said the body had been given the utmost priority by the T.R.T.A. and commented: "We have had freedom of choice and freedom to use our own vehicles for 30 years since the present licensing system was introduced. In the detailed preparation


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