Assurances on Loading Restrictions
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BEFORE the Road Traffic and Road Improvements Bill became law last week, Mr. John Hay, Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, emphatically repeated assurances to commercial vehicle interests concerning the increased powers to ban loading and unloading, which are given to local authorities, writes our Parliamentary correspondent.
"I think honestly that local authorities can be trusted to act reasonably," he said. "After all, they are responsible to their ratepayers. It is quite often the case that the bigger ratepayers are the people who own commercial and business premises which can be affected by loading and unloading bans."
Mr. Hay said he realizedthat some lvI.P.s and the commercial interests concerned, had legitimate apprehension about the possible effects of the clause. He said that efforts would be made to try to modify the procedure which local authorities had to observe when they made traffic regulation Orders. The Minister would lay down a new code and the Orders would have to comply with it.
"The exact details of these regulations must be a matter of discussion between the Ministry and associations who represent the interests principally concerned," he said. "Where a local authority pro poses to institute a ban on loading and unloading on any particular road or area for more than six hours in any 24, and objections are made to that Order, the local authority will be 'required to hold a public inquiry.
" Farther, they will have to send to the Minister of Transport a copy of the inspector's report of the inquiry at least one month before they actually Make the Order. I think this will ensure that we will have ample notice of any possible misuse of these powers by local authorities," he added,
Mr. Hay made it quite clear that it was now the intention of the Government that the Minister of Transport and not the Home Secretary should have the responsibility to set that commercial interests obtained fair treatment.
TANKERS BY PIGGY-BACK?
ASERIES of tests now being conducted by the Chicago and North Western Railway is expected to lead to the eventual transport of road tankers on flat railway wagons.
Tankers loaded with water, on conventional piggy-back flat wagons, are being subjected to high-speed impacts and fast switching tests, to measuring surging of the liquid within the tanks.