Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
44 Tonne juggernauts - FOE slams McDonald
21 March 2000
Friends of the Earth today slammed the Government's decision to allow 44 tonne juggernauts on Britain's roads, which follows a twenty year campaign by road freight interests [1].
FOE accused Transport Minister, Lord McDonald of ignoring caveats issued by the Commission for Integrated Transport, designed to ensure a move to 44 tonners would not take freight off the rails [2].
Roger Higman of Friends of the Earth said:
"As on previous occasions [3], Lord McDonald has picked off the bits of advice he likes and ignored the bits he doesn't. The result will be heavier lorries on our roads and less freight on the rails - an environmental disaster" [4].
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The freight industry has been pressing for 44 tonners since the 1980 Armitagereport into 'Lorries, People and the Environment' recommended them.
[2] The Commission for Integrated Transport's report, which was only interim, recommended that 44 tonne lorries be allowed on Britain's roads on three conditions: that all 44 tonners meet Euro II emission standards, that there should be more resources for enforcing lorry weights and that measures should be taken to encourage rail frieght. Lord McDonald has ignored the last two conditions.
[3] In January, the Government decided not to set targets for traffic reduction, ostensibly on the advice of the Commission. But the Commission's report had saidthe Government should set local 'benchmark profiles' for traffic levels, which the Government has refused to do.
[4] Heavy lorries are responsible for much of the air pollution in UK cities, use more fuel than rail freight and have a worse safety record. They also damage bridges.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
