BAN STAND
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John Guttridge's letter headed "Campaigning Against the Ban" (CM 8-14 March) does not make much sense when set against other statements of the FA.
The ETA is on record as stating that it supports the principle of the London Lorry Ban. It is also on record as stating that the modifications made by the Association of London Government to the ban in the past two years represent positive achievements, The ETA participated in the last full review of the ban in 1997 and made a number of proposals which were widely discussed. Some of them have led to changes, such as the introduction of specific routeing conditions which, as Guttridge well knows, means that operators visiting both Nine Elms and Spitalfields can apply for a routeing agreement which means that they may be able to take a shorter route between the two markets.
Some of the ETA's proposals, which would have made the ban unenforceable, were not accepted.
It appears that the ETA would now like to pretend that this review did not take place.
The ALG has had a continuous dialogue with the ETA over the lorry ban and is committed to changes which make the ban easier to operate while maintaining the environmental benefits of the scheme.
Guttridge's letter makes it clear that the ETA is prepared to say one thing in private and another in public—an approach that can only make it more difficult to make common sense changes in the future.
Nick Lester, Director, ALG Transport and Environment Committee.