GLC goes soft
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
OPERATORS who breach the Greater London Council's proposed night and weekend lorry ban may get off lightly at first, a senior council officer hinted last week.
Speaking at a briefing by GLC officers, senior transport planner Martin Foulkes said: "We won't be looking for an absolutely Draconian enforcement, but we will be looking for persistent infringers.
He said that residents in areas covered by the proposed ban on lorries over 16.5 tonnes would be invited to send the GLC details of sustained lorry problems, and the GLC would then take up their complaints with lorry operators and enforcement authorities.
The ban is still stuck in the ever slowing processes of cautious treading by the GLC transport committee which is trying to impose a ban in the face of ideological opposition from the Government.
Its next move will be a committee meeting on June 20 to decide the criteria for exempting lorries from the ban, including the possibility of permitting access to New Covent Garden market, and whether there will be an "access window" for lorries on Saturday mornings.
In the meantime, the GLC is trying to encourage operators and manufacturers to take advantage of its £100,000 "hush money" budget.