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GLC Leader, opening the Show, calls for . . .
Page 41
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Less interference and more freedom
• "It is my firm belief that we as an authority and you as industrialists will do much more to help the nation's economic recovery if we are given more freedom of action and the . minimum of Government interference."
With such plain-speaking words as these, Mr. Desmond Plummer, Leader of the Greater London Council, officially opened the 1968 Commercial Motor Show last Friday. He went on: "Don't think that your industry is . being singled out for specially adverse treat, ment by the Government. We in the GLC have F had a bellyful of Government intervention. 't And what has been the result? Higher costs ;and increased prices, which in our terms • means an increase in the rates.
"But let me leave this gloomy side of affairs , and tell you something of our positive plans. "In London the GLC has decided to get on . with building a complete system of primary roads which will benefit transport operations by enabling them to move goods quickly and efficiently and cut running costs in terms of time and fuel."
After dealing with the position in London Mr. Plummer continued: "There is also a • crying need for a modern network of trunk roads throughout the country. How unfortunate it is that the national road programme has been cut not once, but in three • separate years in 1966 by £14m, in 1968 E53m while in 1969 cuts of E69m have already been announced. "One of the great advances in recent years has been the container revolution and we in the GLC are playing our part by developing a policy which would make land available for large interchange depots on a scale suited to our modem age, for the rapid transfer of containers for import and export.
"I am also glad to say the GLC is taking an increasing hand in helping commercial traffic to deal with the problems of providing adequate parking space for lorries as well as cars. We are encouraging the setting up of lorry parks which can be properly guarded at night, with decent hostel accommodation for drivers. In this way we shall improve the amenity of residential streets where many lorries are parked at the moment."
Mr: Plummer concluded by saying that he could also cast a "buyer's eye" on the industry's achievements "because the GLC is a pretty big customer of yours, with 3,500 vehicles of different kinds, including ambulances and fire appliances. The outcome of this show must surely justify the grand effort that has been made by all those who have helped to organize it."