Tougher bans ahead?
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• New conditions, regulations and a revised policy for the London lorry ban are expected to result from the next meeting of the London Boroughs Transport Committee (LBTC) on July 17.
The meeting, delayed by a month because of the election, will consider feedback from hauliers and the public who were invited to comment on the LBTC's proposals for issuing the next generation of London lorry ban permits (CM, 2 May).
Paul Lattimore, deputy of the Lorry Ban Unit, the executive arm of the LBTC, says that during the consultation period the Unit talked to the Road Haulage Association, Freight Transport Association, large haulage companies and major manufacturers. "The discussions were aimed at ironing out some of the practical problems — like keeping documentation — with a view to making the whole system more manageable," says Lattimore. "We hope we have been able to make the regulations lorry operators have to follow easier to understand." El The Freight Transport Association has provided its answer to whether it is quicker to take a lorry through London at night, or round the Capital using the M25.
The longer motorway route wins by 39 minutes, though overall fuel consumption was not surprisingly worse on the M25 and there was an added cost of £1.60 to go through the Dartford Tunnel.
"The difference in journey times amounts to a 32.5% saving — or almost a third of the time — by using the M25 and much less driver effort," says the FTA. "For the majority of lorry operators time is of the essence."