raft area changes
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(RESTRUCTURING of the traffic areas can only be justified if the rator gets a better service than at present, the Freight Transport °elation has told the Department of Transport.
TA operations controller id Green has written cornnting on the proposed amlining of traffic areas (CM, e 12), and although the FTA ports the change in principle, Green has detailed some obions to individual aspects of proposals.
particular, the FTA is worI about the effect on existing )rators' licences where indary changes require some rganisation, and says it its the earliest possible conation on how such problems be dealt with.
lany FTA members have indiid that they are dissatisfied the current levels of service liable from their traffic area ues, and by inconsistencies in treatment meted out in difInt traffic areas.
Routine operator licence apations are subject to signifit delay, and we believe that prime objective of any nges must be to achieve a much better level of service and to eradicate some of the differences that currently exist," Mr Green said.
He went on to say that, as the eight proposed traffic areas will be larger than the present 11, it will be essential for Licensing Authorities to hold inquiries at different locations in their areas.
The FTA says that no decision should be taken about closing any traffic area offices for two years, and not until the consequences have been discussed with the industry. It says that any changes to the present arrangements should be reviewed after two years, and that office location decisions should be taken after that. In response to the DTp's questions about detailed drawing of traffic area boundaries, the FTA considers that South Humberside should form part of the Eastern, and not the North-eastern traffic area. It also wants only the north-western tip of Derbyshire to be in the Northwestern traffic area, and for Buckinghamshire to be in the Eastern area.
The Road Haulage Association has also been reviewing the DTp's proposals, and North Wales operators have voiced their disapproval of the planned creation of a Welsh traffic area which, ultimately, might be merged with the West Midland area.
North Wales operators say they would orefer to remain in the North-Western area.