EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR TEMPORARY TACHOGRAPH EXEMPTION

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR TEMPORARY TACHOGRAPH EXEMPTION

AIRPORT ANTI-FREEZE HELD UP AS HAULIERS PREVENTED FROM DELIVERIES

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP has made an urgent appeal to the UK Government to secure an emergency exemption from tachograph rules which threaten to prevent drivers from delivering essential anti-freeze to airports across the Highlands and Islands.

European tachograph rules limit drivers hours, however, with roads impassable or in poor driving condition as a result of the extreme weather, journey times have taken longer meaning drivers with urgent loads will be forced to park their vehicles or be in contravention of European driving legislation. Mr Robertson, the MP for Moray, has this morning been contacted by Ballindalloch based haulage firm AF Grant who need to secure a temporary exemption from the rules if they are to get a crucial delivery of anti-freeze to airports across the Highland’s and Islands. The airports – at Inverness, Aberdeen, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Benbecula and Kinloss - could close within hours without the deliveries which would ground the air ambulance fleet.

Mr Robertson has called on Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy to step in and secure an emergency derogation.

Mr Robertson said:

“These are extreme and exceptional weather conditions and the UK Government must step in secure an emergency exemption so that these crucial deliveries can continue.

“With many roads across the Highlands impassable or in poor condition journey times are obviously increased and this has a knock on effect on drivers’ hours which are subject to European tachograph rules. These rules clearly don’t take account of these exceptional circumstances, and we need a common sense and quick exemption so that these hero hauliers can keep our airports open.

“We need a temporary exemption from Europe and we need it right now. This is exactly the sort of issue people want to see politicians working together to secure, and I have called on the Scotland Secretary to do everything in his power to secure the necessary derogation as a matter of urgency.”