Conservatives vow to sort out transport legislation

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Our Stop the Transport Madness campaign gathered momentum last week, with shadow roads minister for transport Robert Goodwill pledging to take a common sense approach to problematic EU legislation if the Tories are elected.

The Conservative MP for Scarborough, Mr Goodwill met last week with John Parker, chairman of the British Driving Society, which is a partner in our campaign.

Mr Goodwill owns a traction engine that he tows to events at weekends using a low-loader.

Because he is also a full-time MP, Mr Goodwill falls within the scope of legislation that effectively bans anyone with a full-time job from driving their HGV horsebox at the weekends — and some owners of lorries over 3.5 tonnes.

He said: “There has to be some differentation between those who have to drive as part of their job and those who don’t.”

Mr Goodwill has already tabled a parliamentary question and now plans to work with David Jones MP, the shadow Minister for Wales.

H&H last week met Mr Jones, Conservative MP for Clwyd West, to brief him on the latest updates.

“I have received a lot of correspondence on this issue from constituents,” he told H&H.

Mr Jones is planning to table a Westminster Hall debate.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (5 November, ’09)

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