Armchair critics
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THE SPEECH to the Freight Transport Association by Audrey Lees, Controller of Transportation and Development at the Greater London Council, demonstrates clearly how far removed she, and presumably her officials, are from reality.
It is not enough, she says, for operators to consider costs, environmental ;onsiderations must also be taken into account. Ms Lees may have valid points, )ut she became lost in a forest of clichés.
She should know that it is not vehicle designers who choose company liveries using 'strident colours". It is part of a thing called corporate image. CM's livery competition Nas designed to improve the image and it is doing just that.
How can Ms Lees talk of "the aggressive appearance" of vehicles, when the trend recent years has been towards the softer line? 'Leyland's Roadtrain and Ford's Thrgo, launched today, are the most recent examples of that trend.
Smaller lorries, depot siting, route-planning were all points in Ms Lees' delivery. The did not attempt to quantify the benefits — merely to suggest they might be idvantageous is not enough.
But why should Ms Lees and her colleagues only criticise road transport from the ;afety of the courtesy barrier?
The GLC could act; it could consult road transport interests, as could all local iuthorities. It meets trade associations, but that isn't enough. It should talk to the men vho operate and drive the vehicles.
Dialogue — but not too much of it — is a wonderful utor. We will be happy to co-operate with the GLC in tstablishing a forum.