MoT to issue Italian permits
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• As from November 1, goods vehicle operators planning journeys to or through Italy will no longer have to apply to Rome for the necessary permit. Instead, Italian permits will be issued by the Ministry of Transport's Northern Traffic Area office in Newcastle.
This new procedure follows signature in July of a road haulage agreement between the UK Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation In Italy. Under this British goods vehicles, including British trailers and semi-trailers towed by foreign vehicles and unaccompanied trailers and semi-trailers, will need a permit to operate to or through Italy. Permits will be required whether the vehicles are carrying for hire or reward or on own-account. The same arrangements will apply to Italian vehicles coming to the UK.
At present British vehicles occasionally arrive at the Italian frontier without permits and in some cases the British Embassy in Rome has been able to obtain permits for them to enter Italy. This will no longer be possible after November 1 and vehicles arriving without permits issued by the Northern Traffic Area office are likely to be refused entry.
Vehicles from each country are prohibited by the terms of the agreement from engaging in the other's internal road transport. Carriage of goods by hauliers of one country between the other country and a third country is also prohibited.
Permits will be valid for one return journey only, the outward and return legs of a transit journey through Italy counting as one complete journey. Each permit will be valid for one month from the date on which the vehicle is to enter Italy on the outward part of the journey. Particulars of the vehicle will have to be shown.
The Italian Government is agreeing initially to a quota of 2,400 journeys per annum by hauliers of each country. A quota of 400 permits will be available for the two months November /December 1969. There is a further quota of 150 permits for the two months for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers crossing the Italian frontier by rail via the road /rail Kangaroo service, The fVloT will continue to make representations to the Italian authorities to increase the quotas and is prepared to offer quota-free entry to the UK on a reciprocal basis.
Applications for permits will be dealt with on a monthly basis, the normal closing date for any month being the 14th of the preceding month. Any applications received more than two months in advance will be returned to the applicant for re-submission nearer to the required date. The Northern Traffic Area office will be prepared to consider late applications, subject to the limitations of the quota, but operators are urged to submit applications in good time whenever possible. The fee for each permit will be 15s.
A memorandum (RTG /OUT/07) giving details of the system may be obtained free of charge from the Ministry of Transport, Road Transport (Goods) Division, St Christopher House, Southwark Street, London, SE1, or from the Northern Traffic Area office.
Permit application forms and advice may be obtained from: The Clerk to the Licensing Authority, Northern Traffic Area, 36/42 Low Friar Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5XR: Telephone, 0632 610031, Telex 53351.