ASX Lorry routes get green light
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A NATIONAL network of lorry routes will be set up by the Government, it was announced in the Commons last week by Dr John Gilbert, Minister for Transport.
Some 8,000 miles of the existing 11,000 miles of motorways and primary routes have been earmarked for the scheme. Talks will start immediately with the authorities concerned and it is hoped that a considerable mileage will be quickly agreed.
As far as possible the routes will be kept away from environmentally sensitive areas. But at the same time they will recognise the Government's belief in the need to provide for the efficient distribution goods.
A consultation paper on th network has gone out to loc authorities and the road hau age industry. It is loosely base on the document Routes ft Heavy Lorries which wEissued in July 1974. Reactio to that plan, which had visaged only 3,100 miles lorry routes, has been inco porated in the new scheme.
"The 3,100 miles of ne' roads in the original paper wi not be completed for a be time," said Dr Gilbert. " TIconsultation has confirme that even then it would be tc small to be workable.
"We propose, therefore, t devise a system under whic roads should become lorr routes as and when they ai suitable for this purpose. ThoF. routes would be signed accorc ingly and, at least initiall: would he advisory."
Discussions would now sta. with the organisations cot cerned hut many gaps woul remain to be filled before comprehensive network coul be agreed.
The system would need to t regularly reviewed and altere as new or improved roads bE came available, Dr Gilbei went on. Given the present ri strictions on public spending would take several years t complete the scheme.
In the meantime, the moto. ways and primary rout( would continue to provide th framework for local author ties' traffic and lorry plan, But any extra expenditure t implement local lorry plar would have to be matched b cuts in other transport spenc ing.
The FTA told CM this wee that it was happy with th scheme. "This new consultE tion document includes man of the points we put forwar when Routes for Heavy Lorri6 was published," said a spoke: man.