London ban support
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THE GREATER London Council's plan for an inquiry into restrictions on heavy lorries won support last week from vative MP. possible a Conser Speaking in the debate on the Armitage Report, Nigel Forman (Carshalton) said: "The GLC's idea is a good one, because it allows also for the possibility of smaller area bans, such as that introduced in North London."
He was referring to the Enfield/Barnet ban, which is due to take effect later this year when another section of the M25 orbi tal route opens, and said he hoped similar schemes might be introduced to help his constituents in the Sutton area.
Mr Forman urged all interested parties to give evidence to the inquiry, and hoped also that the Government would support local authorities' amenity schemes with cash assistance.
Ron Brown (Labour, Hackney South and Shoreditch) — brother of Lord George-Brown — drew attention to problems in Graham Road, Hackney, and said it was of no help to his constituents that the GLC had concentrated its efforts so far on Barnet.
"I do not object to that, be2.ause one member of my family lives there. However, it is no rielp to the people of Graham Road to know that the London Borough of Barnet is well taken care of. Barnet does not even begin to have the problems of Graham Road."
Mr Brown contrasted the cost of establishing the London lorry inquiry and that of taking measures to control the effects of lorries with Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine's pro posed cuts in rates support to London.
He joined Mr Forman in urging the Government to provide more, and not less support to local authorities in order to put Armitage's environmental recommendations into effect.
There is still no word of who is to chair the London inquiry, and Oxford University's Dr Phil Goodwin — tipped by some to be the man — has still to be approached formally.