'Vital' transport decisions delay
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THE PRIME MINISTER has defined the areas of responsibility which the Department of Transport will be shouldering — but it could be some months before any top level decisions now come out of the new Ministry.
Mr R. I E. Dawson, Head of Road Freight Division DoT, said at a conference on Saturday, that there had been a complete changeover of Ministers involved in the Cabinet re-shuffle.
This would inevitably delay any ministerial decisions, although the creation of a separate Department of Transport would not in itself cause delays. Mr John Wells, transport consultant and a past chairman of the Road Haulage Association, isn't happy about the time it could take before the new department finds its feet.
"There is a whole new team dealing with transport now. The upper echelons have almost totally changed and it is going to take them some time before they get things set up and ticking.
"Nothing is going to happen for six months. But meanwhile there are some vital decisions which need to be taken," Mr Wells told CM.
He said it was essential that now transport has a voice in the Cabinet room it did i waste it.
"The new Department m be given our side of what going on and they have to told quickly."
The DoT has been giN responsibility for the in inland transport industri including British Rail, the t industry, freight and ports.
It also takes on vehi, regulations and inspecti( vehicle and driver licensii road safety and gene] responsibility for local tn. sportation – including tri sport policies, programtr and supplementary grants.
A compromise seems have been struck over w will control the motorway a trunk road systems. The D, was known to be unhappy tl roads should not be bu without it having a say as land use needs.
What has been done is th Inspectors who hold inquiri into road building propos will report to both the Sect tary of State for Transport a, the Environment Secretat who will then make a joi decision.