London Lorry Ban under fire
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by David Craik • A Nottinghamshire haulier has blasted organisers of the London Lorry Ban for imposing "over-the-top" fines on operators who contravene the ban.
Tim Griffin, owner of Retford based Griffin Freight Services, is appealing against a £630 fine after one of his drivers was seen in a restricted street only 15 minutes before the overnight ban expired.
Griffin says the sighting occurred at 06:45hrs on 22 January in Kilburn High Road as the driver was travelling to Lambeth to pick up a load.
"I do not mind paying a fine if we have been judged to have done wrong." Griffin says. "However, we and the Road Haulage Association agree that this is ridiculously steep and we are fighting against it. These fine levels should be looked at."
Griffin says his driver believed the ban applied only to minor roads in the capital to deter "rat running" and that the signs indicating the restriction were "difficult to see" while concentrating on the road.
Barry Hornet, acting director of the Lorry Control Unit, says Griffin's fine is "about average" for this kind of offence.
Although he admits the sum is a lot for a smaller haulier, he says there are no plans for a review of the fine structure.
He says a "grassroots" review intended to find new "sensible" routes for inclusion in the ban is under way and will be completed by the end of the year.