1LC ban forms go out
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E GREATER London, incil's permit application n is now available to rators who wish to be mpt from the night and !kend ban.
1p to 500 companies have ady contacted the GLC for form, but ultimately and 5,000 are expected. td he ban goes ahead. It is 1 being sent to European, Idle Eastern and North ican hauliers and their emties, ;LC freight group planner a Carr explained the form =M.
:ach one has space to apply exemptions for 27 vehicles the form must be signed the operator's licence der.
GLC wants to know nature of the operator's Mess, and how often he nes into London. If he nes in very rarely then we y treat him very differently n the regular haulier," Mr 7r explained. Initially, at ;t, there will be a flexible w on the fitting of hush he said.
There are questions on how often the operator intends to use the M25, exempted routes, other modes of transport and driver training to lessen the environmental impact of his vehicle, and whether they will fit hushkits.
Mr Carr accepted that operators face a dilemma over whether the ban will come in on December 16. It would "probably be acceptable" if they completed all the negotiations for the exemption and then waited for the outcome of the Government's appeal in October before fitting hushkits if necessary, he said.
The form also contains space for the operator to explain reasons — such as financial — why it would find it difficult to modify its lorries or behaviour to comply with the ban. These arguments will be all considered, Mr Carr said.
If the operator and GLC agree on the conditions for the exemption, the operator will receive free luminous plates to Or on the back and front of the vehicle, and a disc for the windscreen. This is to simplify enforcement of the ban.
Operators will be able to go on an independent appeals advisory committee at any stage. Although its exact form has still to be decided, it is expected that some operators' appeals against exemptions refused will be heard before December 16.
It is planned that the committee will be chaired by a lawyer and have six constituent members — including one from the industry's trade organisations and a trades unionist.
Although the GLC transport committee will have the right of veto over the committee's decision, a dissatisfied operator could always take his case to the courts, Mr Carr said,