Government takes on EU over plans to limit trailers to 4m
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THE GOVERNMENT is ighting “tooth and nail” and has “absolutely no intention” of introducing an EU proposal to restrict all newbuild semi-trailers to 4m in height.
In a parliamentary debate last week, transport minister Mike Penning told MPs that other EU countries with “substantial voting clout” were indicating they were not happy with the proposals.
“The measure would have a fundamental effect on the British haulage industry,” he said. “Other countries in Europe already have a 4m limit; such as Austria, for example. No vehicle entering that country can have a height of more than 4m, which is ine. The people of Austria have every right to decide that, but they do not have any right to tell us, in this country, what the height of our vehicles should be.” Penning also hinted that the Department for Transport was “carefully considering” proposals to extend the length of vehicles as he believed it would make a difference to the number of CVs using UK roads. He argued that limiting trailer heights would have a similarly detrimental effect on congestion.
Denby Transport director Dick Denby (below) tells CM that while he welcomes the minister’s comments in regards to trailer lengths, he is concerned about potential limits on trailer heights.