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The young militants start ops
Page 38
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by CM reporter • Despite reports after the Young Liberals' council meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sunday that their campaign to immobilize Continental "juggernaut" lorries was being called off, two vehicles were interfered with at Harwich on Monday evening. Five lorries entering Britain from the Continent had been immobilized before the weekend meeting.
Mr Peter HaM, leader of the campaign. said that the Newcastle meeting had discussed tactics but had not altered the situation.
Young Liberal officials have been disentangling what the secretary described as "a much amended resolution" all week; the secretary again confirmed that the campaign had not been cancelled.
In the meantime the shop stewards of 5 /1 /9 branch of the United Road Transport Union have sent a letter to the Young Liberals' executive, saying: "We condemn this proposed action as being highly irresponsible, extremely dangerous, and certainly illegal.
"All our members will be asked to watch for suspicious behaviour and it is to be hoped they will be restrained enough to merely contact the police and give full information.
"These highly skilled lorry drivers fully realize that many people who talk loosely of 'juggernauts' could not tell one from a London Transport omnibus.
"When a person, working furtively and hurriedly from underneath the chassis of a large foreign manufactured vehicle, starts dismantling components from engines, let him bear in mind that he may well disconnect an air pipe or a compressor, which will not be noticed by the driver until he applies his brakes and finds none. A deflated tyre on double wheels may not be noticed until its 'twin' blows out.
"Therefore, we feel that Peter Hain had better resort to political methods rather than adopt methods no less dangerous than those our army and police are fighting daily."
On other fronts
Meanwhile, Surrey County Council's highways and bridges committee said this week that it is putting forward proposals for recommended heavy vehicle routes following a six-month survey. It is aimed at diverting heavy traffic from Dorking, Reigate, Godalming and Godstone.
Last week 200 people were charged in connection with an anti-lorry campaign in Streetly, Staffordshire. Summonses against 28 of the accused were adjourned at Aldridge on Thursday of last week. It is alleged that they blocked off a road against heavy goods vehicles.