Heathrow expansion welcomed, but better access also required
Date: 23 November 2007
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said that it was vital that the capacity requirements of the access routes to the expanded airport will be considered to make sure freight haulage drivers can easily access the possible new facilities.
In addition, the FTA said that freight haulage drivers wanted the government to look at these issues so that the current airport congestion was not simply transferred to the nearby roads.
According to the FTA, freight haulage drivers are worried about the fact that the planning proposals lack any plans to increase the capacities of the M25 and M4 motorways.
"FTA has serious concerns regarding the increase in congestion on the M4 and M25 as the economy grows during the next 15 years and beyond, notwithstanding any development at Heathrow," explained director of policy James Hookham.
"But the combination of these two factors is certain to lead to more road traffic - evidently with no government plans to increase roads capacity. This must be a mistake and requires some fresh thinking."
Earlier this month, a thinktank criticised the government's current road planning strategy and said that a more localised approach would help freight haulage drivers and other road users.
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