Armitage: act fast Rogers urges Govt
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TH the Armitage Report now only about ten days away, Road ulage Association chairman Ken Rogers this week urged the vernment to take an early decision on the recommendations.
ieplying to a toast to the RHA Solihull by Transport Minister rman Fowler, Mr Rogers said: DuId I please ask that there is delay in reaching decisions the Armitage recommendans?"
-le referred to Mr Fowler's onise that there will be a use of Commons debate be e any decision is taken, and ied: "My message is that, )cious as Parliamentary time iy be, a place for such a dete should be found early in the vv session. It is so important to knd he went on to say that avier lorries are more imporit to RHA members than the e of heavy goods vehicle rting stations to the private lir Rogers described the case r increased weights as verwhelming", and said that it is his firm conviction that Sir Arthur Armitage will recommend this, although he would not not hazard a guess at how large an increase might be contained in the report.
"The economic case is indisputable, and with the environmental improvements which go hand in hand with these, more economical vehicles, we believe that there is no reason why these heavier and environmentally improved vehicles should not be allowed on Britain's major roads."
But he did offer an environmental olive branch in the shape of an acceptance of some restrictions on the use of maximum weight vehicles. He said: "There is, perhaps, some justification for limiting the use of heaviest vehicles in certain special and clearly defined circumstances."
Mr Roger concluded by pointing out that the recent Marplan public opinion survey on the lorry showed that new roads are the real answer to the "lorry problem", and he said: "The answer is clearly construction of purpose-built modern roads and proper maintenance of existing roads."
The Armitage Report, originally expected on October 1, now seems likely to appear around the middle of next month. It is with the printers at present, and the latest estimates are that it will be published in the second week of December.