I’m ashamed and humiliated to admit this, but the Uk has just experienced transport meltdown cruelly visited on it. The ‘system’ is broken, as are the souls of the motorists and travellers frustratingly trying to use it on a regular basis.
I’ve no question that late September 2021 marked the worst, most disorderly interval for transport in the earlier 50 percent-century or additional. I’ve in no way regarded it to be additional hard, soul-destroying and chaotic to get petrol. Of all the controversial transport issues, ministers and mayhem I described on through the eighties from the Houses of Parliament to the European Union HQ , nothing I witnessed in comparison with Britain’s travel-linked debacles past thirty day period.
Anarchy on big roadways, courtesy of felony protestors occupying are living lanes, inhumane queues at Heathrow (now dogged with a rip-off fall-off cost of £5), a “serious breach” followed by nationalisation on a substantial part of the dysfunctional rail community – all these items would’ve been unacceptable enough. But the havoc designed by the failing, collapsing, self confidence-sapping vitality companies tasked with charging EVs the absence of truckers to supply crucial items furthermore the chaos on petrol/diesel forecourts have been the icing on the cake. Hence the greatest transport disaster in living memory.
So what did Transport Secretary Grant Shapps have to say at the peak of the disaster when roadways, HGV/tanker deliveries and forecourts seized up? “The point that sparked this individual rush on the petrol stations is some fairly irresponsible briefing from a person of the highway haulage associations, which would seem to have bought this going.” Eh? What a shameless attempt by Shapps to blame the Street Haulage Association (RHA). It’s his Government and section that have the personnel, and lawful and economic powers to system, administer and supply a performing transport program. The point that we cough up all-around £50billion annually in highway-consumer taxation proves that we’ve additional than paid for a person that operates.
His wonderful alternative for repairing the bruised, bloodied and busted transport community and linked infrastructure? “Obviously we’ve bought a substantial deal of distinctive alleviations in position.” Crystal clear as mud. This form of arrogant ‘couldn’t give a toss about travel and transport’ society at the highest stage, blended with cluelessness and sheer ineptitude just has to alter as we exit (hopefully) Meltdown 2021.
If the Government definitely believes in additional right employment, amenities and economic benefits for tanker motorists and other truckers then it requires to additional generously subsidise their coaching, testing and wellbeing build additional roadside relaxation stops and loos for them assure them that the damaging menace of self-driving lorries will not before long render them redundant. And talking of incentives, how about trials to avoid upcoming transport meltdowns? For starters, motorists in notoriously congested regions the place fuel shortages strike toughest could be offered funds payments, tax reductions, or other benefits if they agree to depart their vehicles parked at house for say, 3 times out of each and every seven. Any takers?
Do you agree with Mike? Enable us know your views in the opinions under…
