Green plea to the Stab
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Government has been accused of paying lip service to Green issues — while failing to help the road transport industry cut pollution by saving hundreds of thousands of journeys a year. Bob Penny, Rowntree Distribution's director of personnel and technical services, bunched his attack last week during the Friendly Green Lorry conference at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory's Crowthorne, Berks base. "From an environmental point of view," said Penny, "what is completely unforgiveable is that the Government could have helped the operator by offering to an immediate move to 40 tonnes GVW on five axles. This would have saved the equivalent of 330,000 journeys a year," he said. "But 330,000 journeys' worth of diesel engine particulate emissions, associated noise and congestion does not appear to' be worth saving. Forget the politics and help us to be Green — don't hinder us."
Penny called on the Government to support a programme to reduce the sulphur content in diesel, giving 100% capital allowances for environmentallyfriendly vehicles in the first year, and making equipment such as catalytic convertors, spray suppression and hush kits VAT-exempt, with grants available for their purchase. Rowntree Distribution, with 73 tri-axle 38-tonne tractors, 153 box van trailers and nine liquid chocolate tankers, completes more than 16 million kilometres a year, said Penny. "It is our belief that we should not operate out of cities such as York or Norwich and deliver into Cornish or Scottish villages, without accepting some responsibility for the environment in which we live and work."
Rowntree Distribution fits an aerodynamic package including bumper air dams, roof fairings and side wings on tractors, giving a 6.3% fuel saving. The company attempts to avoid cities and problem areas; loads and unloads all its vehicles inside buildings to reduce noise nuisance, and does not allow vehicles to be left ticking over. Penny urged Friends of the Earth and other lobby groups to work with the industry to produce practical working solutions, rather than simply criticising it: "You must put pressure on the Government, not just to set standard levels for this and that, but persuade them to give compensating inducements for us to act without weakening our economic Above: Frigoblock has develo) environment-friendly distribu. tion vehicles for the German Office of the Environment. T vehicles, built on MAN chass feature quiet refrigeration um ozone-friendly refrigerant and CFC-free insulation.
viability." he said. High Wycombe-based Cal Wood Transport is now evaluating the costs of the 38tonne Volvo FL10 equipped with 'environmentally-friendly features.