Four metre height restriction would damage trade between UK and Ireland, warn associations

The letter was signed by the Freight Transport Association, FTA Ireland, Road Haulage Association, British Irish Chamber of Commerce, Irish Exporters Association, Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, and expressed extreme concern about a suggested amendment in a report by Austrian MEP Jörg Leichtfried, which would prohibit all cross-border movements of vehicles exceeding 4m in height.  Ireland has a national height limit of 4.65 metres and the UK imposes no national height restriction.

Theo de Pencier, FTA’s CE, said: "We are extremely concerned about the adverse effect this would have on trade and the environment.  One major UK retailer, with operations in the UK and Ireland, has estimated that a 4m height restriction would result in 3000 extra trailer movements, adding 740,000 additional road miles and generating an extra one million kg of carbon dioxide per year.”

It is estimated that up to 90% of the Irish fleet would be affected by such a height restriction, with serious cost increases. 

The letter appealed to the Transport Committee to accept the European Commission’s proposal to permit cross border movements of vehicles that exceed the maximum dimensions if they are already permitted in neighbouring member states.