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Paul Atherton Paul Atherton Transport Noriolk An international haulier with
Page 39
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12 vehicles in his fleet, Paul Atherton is convinced the proposed changes are a good idea. But he worried that centralising the process could jeopardise good relationships hauliers might have with their local Traffic Area Offices.
"I must admit I've found staff at the Cambridge office very helpful," he says. "I was recently thinking of basing one lorry in Rugby for weekend shunting to Manchester and Bristol in a day. In the end it didn't work out but the advice that one particular member of staff gave me was really helpful."
Atherton is also opposed to disc abolition: "It's a ready reckoner a bright green disc that provides a quick visual check for any policeman. ldon't agree with scrapping it and I think they should keep it."
He also agrees with other hauliers that no grace period at all could pose problems. Shortterm rentals are a necessity and the logistics of getting a vehicle on the licence within hours instead of days is likely to cause big problems: "It's important to have the flexibility to be able to put lorries in at short notice... maybe they could reduce it to two weeks."