FTA chief executive Richard Turner was warmly received, in what was his last annual dinner as head of the association. He retires next summer. He revealed he had been "summoned to Geneva" after European trade bodies had accused him of "gross xenophobia" for the joint FTA/RHA campaign to identify foreign drivers and operators. "I am really looking forward to it," he said, after attacking threats to UK safety standards from "the invasion by low standard foreign operated vehicles".
"On behalf of us all, please ensure that we export our standards into Europe and not import theirs in the UK," he implored of Alexander. Turner branded the government's response to congestion 'inadequate'. "The motorway trade routesare not fit for purpose." When will the government deliver on road pricing, in order to manage demand, he asked.
Turner also noted that the FTA has "been working very closely with the RHA on ket matters of common interest, particularly high fuel duty and unfair foreign competition." He paid tribute to the way FTA president John Russell and RHA chairman Willy Oliver "have made this happen. If only all of us could always work together as well as we all eat together".
