Labour GLC threat to heavy •lorries
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GREATER London Labour Party is considering turning apital into the country's biggest no-go area for heavy s, and plans to set up an inquiry if, as expected, it wins ol of the Greater London Council in next week's ons. ALAN MILLAR reports.
our group leader Andrew itosh and transport sman Ken Livingstone an:ed plans last Friday for an y into the whole question ! future of heavy lorries in )n.
roup spokesman told CM le inquiry would be a short due to report back to a ir GLC by December or January at the latest.
envisaged that a transport mic the Labour Group id to confirm or deny rethat Oxford University's Dr ioodwin is the man will the inquiry, and be sup1 by representatives of tors, trades unions, and mmentalists.
Goodwin, who spent five of his career in the GLC's Dortation branch, mainly iblic transport matters, told lat he has little preconcep tion of the lorry problem. He added: "No official approach has been made to me, but if there is such a study, I would be very keen to take part in it."
The form of the inquiry has still to be finalised, but the Labour Group spokesman said that the risk of a diverse set of inquiry members producing an inconclusive verdict had to be faced. One solution would be to have a one-man inquiry, like Armitage, with a panel of assessors giving advice.
Labour politicians say that Londoners' concern about the environmental effects of lorries has reached such a stage that an objective inquiry must be conducted quickly. Mr McIntosh said: "If it is shown that juggernaut bans can be justified, we will get moving at once to get bans in operation."
He said that the inquiry would take into account the possibility of weekend and night bans on lorries over 16.5 tonnes, and even a total ban on such vehicles in the GLC area.
But, even before the inquiry reports, a Labour GLC will consider limited area bans on heavy lorries, the creation of more break-bulk depots and lorry parks, the transfer of more freight to rail and water, enforce
ment of noise and smoke tests, and pressing the Government to increase vehicle excise duty perhaps up to £8,500 for the heaviest vehicles.
The Labour group spokesman told CM that it was attracted by the arguments advanced by Campaign Against the Lorry Menace in its evidence to the Armitage Inquiry.
The Labour spokesman added that "insofar as it has a policy", Labour is against Arrnitage's proposals for heavier vehicles.
The reaction of the industry, which thought Armitage represented the end of a long line of inquiries into the road haulage industry, has been one of dismay. Both the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association say they will cooperate with any London inquiry, but say they doubt whether it will reach any fresh conclusions.
• RHA's views on London's road policy, p4.