Councils still prefer rail
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LORRIES are already too big and too heavy, the National Association of Local Councils has told MPs.
The association, which represents 7,500 English and Welsh parish, town, and community councils, says that lorries are having a seriously damaging effect on villages and small towns whose road systems date back to pre-motor times, and which are not suited to heavy lorries.
It has pointed out the destructive effects which it believes lorries have by causing noise, vibration, and fumes, and says that they damage road surfaces and verges.
NALC wants a national transport policy to be devised, with greater emphasis placed on railfreight, and for this to take precedence over any increase in gross weight limits.
At the other end of the local authority scale, the Greater London Council has agreed to oppose the Government's White Paper on lorry weights (CM January 30), and is to seek other councils' co-operation in this policy.