NGLO-FRENCH RHA wants better facilities DHUNNEI: TALKS for Continental traffic
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4RS. BARBARA CASTLE, Minister of Transport, meets M. Pisani, the French Mister for Equipment, in London on Septemr 9 to discuss the Channel Tunnel. It will be eir first meeting for this purpose.
The meeting follows the agreement reached • the Prime Minister with M. Pompidou, the • ench Prime Minister, during his visit to Loftin in July, that subject "to finding a solution r the construction work on mutually accept ic the two Governments haVe now ten a decision that the tunnel should be built". The Ministers hope to have received the re ■ rt which British and French officials are now rnpleting on the problems of financing and ganizing the construction and operation of the noel, and to have a first exchange of views possible solutions.
lew roll-on ferry service
NEW • roll-on/roll-off ferry service between Southampton and Le Havre, to be known as )rmandy Ferries and operated by Southern rries Ltd. in association with Societe Anonyme Gerance et d'Armement (SAGA) of Paris, 11 start next July.
Two 5,600-ton ships ("Dragon" and ..eopard") are being built in France, the first which will enter service in July and the :ond in May, 1968.
'miller fined £80
k. HAULAGE contractor, John Arthur John son, of Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, was ed a total of £60 at Chesterfield Borough agistrates' Court after pleading guilty to 10 tu-ges of failing to comply with the requirenits of a B licence. He was fined a further £20 ter pleading guilty to eight charges of failing to ep current records. His driver, Roy Mellors, of d Whittington, was fined £10 after pleading ilty to 10 charges relating to failure to keep :ords.
John Kennelly, haulage contractor, of Chesterld, who had employed Johnson in connection th motorway construction work, was fined £60 er pleading guilty to six charges of aiding and ening the licence offences.
EXTENSION of inland clearance depots is highly desirable but they must be combined with Tut facilities, says the Road Haulage Association in a memorandum to the National Economic Development Office. Continental hauliers would not otherwise receive, as they are entitled to expect, the same customs facilities in Britain as in their own countries.
The comment is on a recommendation referred to the RHA in the report on through transport to Europe, published in June by the Economic Development Committee for the movement of exports.
It is pointed out by the RHA that on other recommendations action had already been taken in advance of the report. The RHA was represented on the committee of the British Shippers Council which originally drew up plans in conjunction with the customs authorities for the constitution for inland clearance depots; and the Association's southern area has played a leading part in the consortium which is establishing a depot in the Southampton area.
On the suggestion that more information should be provided the RHA says that tor the past six years it has operated a comprehensive advisory service on international transport problems. The service is used not only by members of the RHA but by industrialists, exporters, shipping and forwarding agents and Government departments. Wide distribution has been given to a leaflet setting out the names and addresses and facilities of hauliers specializing in international traffic.
The RHA supports in principle the recommendations to simplify customs procedures and documentation. In discussions with the Treasury and the Board of Trade two years ago, however, the Association drew attention to the work already being done by the International Road Transport Union and expressed an inclination to accept the views of countries such as the Netherlands which were playing a far larger part than Britain in international road transport.
The RHA hopes that proposed improvements in customs procedures will take effect as soon as possible. It is the view of the Association's international group that these improvements would considerably speed up the movements of full load traffic on rollon/roll-off services.
In the opinion of the RHA the ownership, inspection and registration of containers, to which the report suggests that consideration should be given, are matters on which there should be full consultation with the appropriate international organizations. A special working party of the [RU, on which the RHA is represented, is considering container traffic and possible amendments of the TIR convention to cover containers which do not remain on road vehicles throughout their journey.
TRTA approves meter scheme
THE TRTA has told Leeds Corporation that it has no objection in principle to the extension of the controlled parking area in the city. A detailed survey carried out by the Association showed that every endeavour had been made to ensure that the location of meters did not interfere with vehicle entrances to premises, and that their spacing would be such that all premises could be served without an unduly long carrying distance being involved.
The survey, however, brought out a number of points where some amendments of the proposals were necessary and these have been brought to the attention of Leeds Corporation. So also have certain points which do not affect goods vehicle operation but which the TRTA feels would impede the efficient operation of the scheme.