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Road lobby strongest, claims report
Page 23
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by CM reporter
HAULIERS beset with what is perhaps the most restrictive legislation and rigid enforcement in the world will be surprised to learn that the road lobby is the strongest lobby in Parliament and influences unduly Government thinking on transport.
These are some of the conclusions reached in a report by Mick Hamer and published this week by Friends of the Earth Ltd. Apart from other interests. Mr Hamer is a member of the North London Line Committee and the Railway Invigoration Society.
Also surprisingly, the report states that the central body in the road lobby is the British Road Federation, The six major areas of support, it says, are the motor industry, bus operators. road haulage firms, motorists' organizations, the road construction industry and the oil industry. though support also comes from other sources such as the steel industry, insurance companies and farmers.
Sympathetic
All these areas of support are reinforced through customer-supplier relationships which serve to extend the lobby beyond the immediate interests identified. Thus, even companies not having direct road interests may be sympathetic and help to support lobby policies.
A remarkable degree of unity is achieved between interests that are in potential conflict and statements issued by various members might appear to be unrelated. The author believes that the policy of the lobby is to promote facilities for the road user and minimize restrictions on road transport.
Judging by results, it appears to have been singularly unsuccessful.