Ban — the story continues
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• The London lorry ban looks like returning to the High Court this week as the Freight Transport Association formalised its complaints over its administration.
The FTA has written a letter to the ban's temporary administration — the London Residuary Body (LRB) — and warns that it is willing to take legal action over the way exemption permits are being administered.
The FTA has told the LRB that it is raising the issue with the ombudsman over alleged maladministration, and it has also given the LRB seven days to reply to the letter.
As CM went to press Tuesday night the LRB had not replied and the seven days was due to expire the following day.
The FTA complains that while the Greater London Council administered the night and weekend ban, operators only had to "Consider" fitting vehicle silencing equipment to secure a permit.
Since the GLC's abolition on April 11, operators are having to agree to fit them says the ETA.
"Industry is being held to ransom and We think El'A planning and traffic services Manager Don McIntyre told CM.
"We are seriously considering going to court," McIntyre added. So far only operators applying for exemption permits for new vehicles have been affected by the alleged change in conditions.
Soon many more operators could be affected. in the first three months of permit issuing, which began around October last year, some 30,000 vehicles received permits.
These will all soon be up for renewal, and the FTA fears that operators will all be faced with the dilemma of having to fit vehicle qui
etening equipment or being refused a permit.
The 1,RB argues that 11w ciinditions covering permit applications have not changed since the 61-C's abolitif in