Yet another go at 40-tonne Euro lor
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The idea is for the rest of the EEC to accept 40 tonnes with 3ritain and Ireland being Wowed to stay at 38 tonnes until A least 1990 or possibly 1995.
There is little likelihood lowever, that Britain will be Prepared to accept such a time imit.
We are not the only country to appose the scheme. Italy for mample still clings to its 44:onne limit.
There is certainly no great en:husiasm among British transaort industry spokesmen for an .4arly weights increase. Both the • =reight Transport Association ind the Road Haulage Associajon want a period of stability.
The ETA said on Tuesday that t had never strayed from its long term desire for 40 tonnes, out added: "If there is a prospect of 40 tonnes, we would want a firm rather than a vague prospect."
Denmark says it cannot accept 11 tonnes on a single axle.
Also on the agenda of the June 7 meeting is the question of how the EEC fixes haulage tariffs.
The Commission's proposal that rates should be left to market forces rather than fixed at compulsory levels has not been accepted.
It now looks as if the present system — whereby Britain, Denmark and Ireland apply the freemarket system and the other six countries rely on fixed tariffs will be maintained.