Political crash
Page 15
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THE CASE for a London lorry ban was strengthened in many minds last week after a French 38-tonne articulated lorry crashed into three houses in North London, killing both occupants of the lorry, reports TIM COBB.
With the Wood Report on the possible effects of lorry bans in London now imminent, any recommendations for bans across the whole of Greater London are likely to be more eagerly accepted by the general public.
The Greater London Council
has used the accident to back up its reservations about 38-tonne
vehicles being allowed on the roads at all. "That extra six tonnes on top of 32.5 tonnes in creases the momentum of a vehicle no end," a GLC spokesman said. "They seem to be demolishing houses at a fair rate."
He said that there was already a wide feeling of resentment against heavy vehicles. The Wood Report would perhaps help solve many of the lorry related problems.
On the same day as the Islington accident the GLC approved a night-time lorry ban in Graham Road, Balls Pond Road and Archway Road in North London. St Paul's Road, where the accident occurred, would be incorporated. The ban (see this page) will be on the northbound section of the road and will affect about 300 vehicles per night.
The GLC is also looking into an eastbound ban on the same road.
Although the spokesman admitted that the M25 London or bital motorway would take a large amount of traffic away from London, he felt a Londonwide ban was imperative.
Islington Borough Council said it was a "disgrace" that the road along which the lorry had been travelling was a designated metropolitan lorry route.
"At the location of the accident, St Paul's Road is one of the narrowest roads in the
borough," a Council spokesman told CM. "We have constantly
spoken out against the Government on the lorry issue and it is about time more suitable routes were found."
The Council is continuing to press for a total ban on lorries in its borough, although the GLC feels that this would simply shift the problem onto someone else's door step.
The Freight Transport Association said that the accident, while obviously unfortunate, had come at a bad time in respect of the Wood Report. "This accident will be publicised as a typical occurrence," an FTA spokeeman said. "It will affect public opinion to a certain degree at a crucial time when the future of lorries in London is already seriously in doubt."
FTA traffic officer Don McIntyre said that the stretch of road in question had to compe with 3,600 lorries every 24 hours. Although this is a stunning figure, the road is designated by the GLC as an A road and so has to cope with the traffic, he said.
"A ban is no answer to the problem, we must wait until the M25 is complete and then see where we stand," he said.
"Vehicles that still have to go into London after the completion of the M25 will obviously continue to do so," he said.
The Road Haulage Association said that the blame for the accident and the general state of the roads lay squarely on the shoulders of the GLC.
Lorries wanting to travel to the East London industrial estates have to go along inadequate roads, an RHA spokesman said. "Until there is an improvement
in the roads, what can we do?"
He endorsed the feelings of the FTA regarding the M25, saying that it would provide some relief for London and provide a fast through road to Dover and Folkestone. But how much relief these inadequate roads would receive could not yet be gauged.
THE SCOTTISH Traffic Area sub office in Aberdeen closes this Thursday, July 7 and all administrative work in connection with Goods Vehicle, operators', psv and hgv drivers' licensing' for the whole of Scotland will be transferred to the Scottish Traffic area at 24 Torpichen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8HD.