Mulley's plan for lorry routes
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A CONSULTATIVE paper announced by Transport Minister Fred Mulley this week sets out plans to restrict hgv to a suitable network of roads.
The paper also suggests that there is a real need for investigation into the transhipment of loads from large to small vehicles on the outskirts of urban areas.
In a map of the proposed network it is revealed that hgv would be allowed to travel on all the motorways and the larger trunk roads.
• Several possibilities are put forward in the paper for the enforcement of the scheme. First; a prohibition system with prohibition signs on the roads. Second; a positive route-marking system, involving the positive designation of routes using a white lorry-sign system. The paper has been sent to the local authorities, the police, the transport industry and other bodies concerned with the movement of goods with a request for comment by November 15.
An FTA spokesman, told CM he was doubtful whether the scheme would have the desired effect of lessening the damage caused to the environment by heavy lorries. Heavy lorry routes were fine in principle provided that sensible, acceptable routes could be found, but there was an immense gulf between attractive theories and practice. The route system proposed was totally inadequate and highlighted the many gaps in the country's basic road network. It followed the routes most drivers used anyway.