N.R.T.F. Road Schemes Being Tackled
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UTANY of the road-improvement Ilft schemes which were advocated by the National Road 'Transport Federation four years ago havenow been tackled by the Ministry of Transport, says the Federation's annual report. "This is not the end of this story of .progress," the report states. "Steps are being taken to press again with the Ministry the desirability of completing all the schemes as soon as possible." Altogether the Federation put forward proposals for 330 improvements after a survey of many areas in 1953, and since then there has been co-operation between them and the Ministry in deciding -on priority requirements. On the subject of traffic congestion, the report points out that with the established short working day and the extensive adoption of the five-day week, the number of hours in which a vehicle can be usefully employed is limited. Many business houses-will not accept deliveries in the early morning or after 4.p.m., and many more do not open on Saturdays, so that loading and unloading bans for several hours during the day make the maintenance of a delivery service to shops and factories increasingly difficult. "The fewer deliveries a vehicle can make, the greater the number of vehicles required," it says, "There is a resultant increase in traffic congestion, and this matter also affects the cost of delivery and must ultimately increase. .the price of goods." .
"HULL FERRY CHARGES ' TOO HIGH " rHARGES for commercial vehicles on the Hull—New Holland ferry were criticized as being too high by the Lord Mayor of Hull, air. T. Wilcock, at last week's meeting of Hull Development Committee. He said that more trade would result if there was a more reasonable return fare on the ferry. • Mr. J. A. Peckett, British Railways' representative on the committee, replied that he would investigate the history of the ferry charges and report back. The present charge for commercial vehicles is £2 ds. 6d. return, with drivers' fares extra.
3-D CONVEYORS ON THE WAY
THE Stubbe conveyor, which operates in three dimensions, is to be manufactured in this country by Metalastik, Ltd., Leicester. A special belt of rubber-to-metal bonded construction-incorporates transverse folds enabling materials to be lifted up steep inclines, and permits the negotiation of tight curves. It is possible to arrange for off-loading at any point. A portable conveyor will also be available. Coal, minerals of all kinds, stone, powders, sacks, crates and boxes can be conveyed up inclines of 350 or more in straight runs or spirals. Curves of less than 10-ft. radius can be accommodated.