Support grows for fuel duty campaign
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• A number of national organisations have pledged to join hauliers in their campaign to reduce fuel duty with a promise to "fight from the same glove".
At a meeting last week organised by the Road Haulage Association, representatives from the Freight Transport Association, TransAction, the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators, the Transport and General Workers Union, the United Road Transport Union, the Federation of Small Businesses and the National Farmers Union discussed supporting the campaign with coordinated strategies.
Delegates said the industry needed to win the "environmental debate" with Government. The RHA is preparing a document which answers the Government's concerns about HGVs' environmental impact.
Other strategies include the RHA's Essential User Rebate policy which is being presented to transport and economic journalists from the national press, and a lobby of Parliament in early February. Another RHA Fair Play on Fuel rally will be held next spring.
Delegates agreed that representatives from all the organisations should be at these events and should have their names on all press releases.
Jim Jordan, of the Shropshire and Border Counties Transport Association, says: "I've never seen so many organisations round a table. With their support we must get somewhere."
However, TransAction member Frank Stears of Stears Haulage says: "February is too late for a lobby— it must be changed."
Although pleased that other bodies have come on board, he feels that the strategies do not have the "oomph" needed to change the Government's mind.