Local Euro MP's 'amazement' at claims by Royal Mail that new EU Directive will delay deliveries

12.08.53pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Sep 2007

Local Euro MP, Diana Wallis, has responded with 'amazement' to a warning that Royal Mail has given their customers that their mail may not be delivered until 2pm, and not at all to some flats, because new EU legislation means their delivery drivers have to drive slower.

The new EU Road Transport Directive dictates that Royal Mail vans over seven and a half tonnes have to comply with lower speed limits.

Speaking on BBC local radio this morning, Diana Wallis, Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and a Vice President of the European Parliament, said:

"I am a bit amazed by Royal Mail's claim that this might be a problem caused by Europe. The speed restrictions have been with us in some shape or form since 1992. This was at the request of countries like Britain and others in Europe and the European Commission has actually tightened up the speed limits for large trucks. To blame Europe for this is a bit unreasonable.

"If you look at the speed limits for the large trucks we see on the motorways currently they shouldn't be going more than 60mph according to our own national legislation and the new law will bring then down to 56mph. So it's not a huge difference.

"The good thing about this being done EU-wide is that when people are driving on motorways in this country we shouldn't have big foreign trucks breathing down our necks in our cars, trying to force us to drive faster. The new rules should apply to all vehicles and they will have to limit their speed, whichever part of the EU they are from."

Diana Wallis added:

"Looking at this, I get the feeling that 'blaming the EU' is a convenient mask for Royal Mail to hide its own particular problems; after all their competitors will be subject to exactly the same restrictions!"