T HE ADVERSE reaction of the transport industry to the High
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Court ruling on the lorry ban by the Greater London Council was both swift and predictable.
It is bad news not only for hauliers but also fir London. How will meat get to Smithfield Market or fruit and vegetables to Covent Garden? What will happen to newsprint consigned to Fleet Street or refuse collection in Soho?
Dave Wetzel of the GLC will say that such traffic will be exempted. There appear to be more exemption -escape roads" than there are vehicles to use them. All that will be required is an army of local government officers to administer the scheme. That will mean additional staff and an extra burden on London rates.
Mr Wetzel may argue that this is not so and that existing staff will cope with exemption applications. If that is so fine. But it poses the question, if the already fully employed how will the find the time?
The concept is quite ludicrous and more than a political ploy to drum u emotive support for a handfifl of councillors. We doubt if any of then know what traffic management and physical distribution means.
Once more, transport is proving t. a political football. The players may professional politicians but they are undoubtedly amateur business person