Norris urged to
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rethink eye regs TOIL AND TROUBLE by Derren Hayes
• Pressure is mounting on Roads Minister Steven Norris to back down over the new eyesight regulations and reintroduce grandfather rights to save thousands of drivers who will otherwise lose their jobs.
Unions, politicians and transport officials are urging the Department of Transport to soften its interpretation of the European directive and bring the UK in line with other EU states planning to ignore the regulations (CM 15-21 Feb).
Norris defends his decision to end grandfather rights on medical and road safety grounds.
The United Road Transport Union is meeting Norris next week to discuss possible solutions.
An URTU spokesman says: "We think there is a reasonably good chance he [Norris] will reconsider."
The Transport and General Workers Union has called on Norris to speak to drivers who will lose their jobs. and wants
either the existing protection to be retained or a compensation scheme to be set up.
David Chidgey, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh. Hampshire, posted an early-day motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to provide compensation or retraining for the predicted 3,000 drivers who will lose their jobs.