'Lets hear operators at road inquiries'
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ROAD transport operators and industrialists should insist on being heard in support of major new roads at public inquiries. This was one of the key points emerging at a London conference arranged by the British Road Federation last week to discuss the Government's Transport Policy document.
It was pointed out that the public advertisements of the Department of the Environment notifying meetings merely invited objectors to the proposals to come forward. In reality, said a number of conference speakers, there was a silent majority of people in the Winchester and Aire Valley areas — recently the subject of much attention in the media — who would benefit from planned new roads.
Mr F. Martin-Dye, administration manager, British Transport Docks Board, Southampton, said he was very concerned as to Southampton's road links with London and the Midlands having regard to the port's expected growth in traffic in the next 10 years. His Authority intended to be represented at every public inquiry held in connection with the A34 improvements planned.
Conference chairman, Mr Tony De Boer, confirmed that when the British Road Federation gave evidence at the Greater London Council roads inquiry it had had to couch its evidence as an objection in order to appear.
Mr K. Cannell, deputy director of BRF, said the point would be followed up quickly.