Weight restrictions hamper recovery --FERF
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
RITAIN'S 32-ton weight nit on lorries is restricting ansport efficiency and givg EEC countries which allow P.avier trucks an industrial lvantage.
That was the warning given y Peter Foden, chairman and lanaging director of ERF loidings) Ltd, at the commy's annual meeting last .eek.
Mr Foden said that it is aportant that the transport idustry makes the public lore aware of the case for aavy lorries. A less emotional view of transport would produce a balanced policy based upon economic necessity and Britain's increasing links with Europe.
He pointed out that the Government had already admitted that the road versus rail argument was a barren one and that a vast majority of freight would continue to be moved by rail.
The Green Paper of transport policy also said that environmental problems were minimal when goods vellieles were used away from residential areas.
"Unfortunately, the road programme seems to be in the front line for cuts in Government expenditure," Mr Foden went on. "But increasing vehicle taxation to cover all environmental costs would automatically push up the cost of living."
Such taxation would do nothing to help the economy or satisfy the environmental conditions unless the road improvement programme was continued. Mr Foden announced at the meeting that sales by the truck building division totalled £7.1m in the first 12 weeks of the current financial year.
This was 62 per cent up on the same period last year. Announcing a much improved profit situation, Mr Foden said that the trend was better than the board's forecast.
On the home market the company's order book was strong for the next six months. Recently confirmed orders had taken up export production capacity until mid-1977.