Showtime call to UD laden wei hts

24th September 1976, Page 90

24th September 1976

Page 90

Page 90, 24th September 1976 — Showtime call to UD laden wei hts

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

A PLEA to up the maximum weight limit and so put Britain on an equal footing with other European countries was made on the eve of the Commercial Motor Show.

It came from Mr David Plastow, who is president of the show's organisers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Mr Plastow, who is also the group managing director of Rolls-Royce Motors, said that most Continental countries are benefiting from a major advance which is denied to the British operator and his customers.

"That is the use of vehicles laden to a maximum of between 38 and 44 tons compared with the UK's limit of 32 tons."

An immediate lowering of costs, reduced environmental effect and less road congestion would follow, claimed Mr Plastow, as fewer trucks would be needed to carry the same loads.

"These trucks look no different from those of today and of course would have to comply with similar noise, safety pollution and other requirements. They are a bonus which Britain is today denied."

The lack of a home market for such vehicles also made Britain's industry less competitive with some of its bigger international competitors.

Mr Plastow also attacked the proposed increased taxation on road vehicles.

The Government's transport consultation document put forward this plan on two grounds — both "wholly specious".

The first was that some of the larger vehicles do not fully cover their track costs. But it was already clear that road transport as a whole covered through all manner of taxes not only the full road spending but with enough left over to meet the rail subsidies.

Secondly it was argued that added taxes were needed to cover "unspecified and unquantifiable social and environmental costs".

Trucks and vans did make noise and emit exhaust gases, but so did other transport systems which were barely limited by legislation.

Increased taxation, said Mr Plastow, would merely make industry less competitive and increase prices and would not help the environment.

"Britain's leaders have to stop looking for soft options. They must stop pretending that such options exist," he commented.