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Ban stand off?

26th January 1985
Page 7
Page 7, 26th January 1985 — Ban stand off?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ONFRONTATION in the courts between Transport Secretary Niholas Ridley and the Greater London Council over the GLC's proosed night and weekend ban for lorries over 16.5 tonnes moved step closer this week.

Mr Ridley sent a second letter ) the GLC on January 10 tich argued again that the ouncil was not enacting its igal duty, under Section 122 of le Road Traffic Regulations 984, to make sure traffic could love easily and have reasonble access to business remises.

In its answer on January 16, ie GLC replied that it was actlg lawfully and that it was entled to go ahead with the ban eithout a public inquiry.

Mr Ridley is now expected to rder the GLC not to go ahead nd the GLC will argue in the owls that he has acted be yond his powers and cannot block the ban.

In its reply to Mr Ridley, the GLC argues that it is fulfilling its legal duties in permitting expeditious flow of traffic by its system of exemption permits, excluded routes, exemption for lorries under 16.5 tonnes and hours of operation.

The letter argues that the GLC would be failing its duties if it had not considered all the effects and arguments about the ban, But it said: "It does not appear that this can in truth be suggested."

It continues: "It is by now apparent that the Secretary of State considers that he is entitled to make his own judgment of the merits and demerits of the proposed ban and if his judgment contradicts that of the council, to reach the conclusion that the council is not satisfactorily discharging its function under Section 122."

The GLC said: "The massive consultation process exceeds any other exercise," and added that it is "very well aware of the effects of the proposed ban upon persons (le, all forms of person) outside Greater London" and those in it.

It argued that the exemption permit system was not, as Mr Ridley had said, "Vague and susceptible to alteration at short notice."

It said commercial considerations prevented the GLC from disclosing names of companies which had "agreed a basis for a permit application and accepted the assurances to the extent that the council may lawfully give them to safeguard their longer term plans".

The GLC also told Mr Ridley that it had taken into account the unfinished sections of the M25 when planning the ban, so had taken relevent consideration.

Tags

Organisations: Greater London Council
People: Niholas Ridley
Locations: London

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