For Peter Koomen Transport from Hoorn, the consequences of a ban are still manageable. He only drives his truck on the A7 once or twice a week. Yet he thinks it is a shame that this is no longer possible. “Then we will have to take a detour from Monday and that will take a lot of time and kilometers. And that will cause a lot more traffic locally,” he expects.
Also no buses and coaches
Not only the transport sector is affected by the ban, buses or coaches will also be excluded from the A7 from Monday. A hard blow, says Jan de Jong of Alpha Tours from Hem, because the high season has just started. “This doesn’t suit us at all, we are very busy,” he said indignantly.
The program is chock full: the Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, school trips to Walibi and the May holidays. “This decision upsets the planning. Our drivers, but also tourists, for example, now have to leave home earlier. The detour is not included in the quotes. The extra hours that now have to be worked cost us a lot more money.”
He therefore has an appeal: “A full coach weighs around 20 tons, and an empty one weighs between 12 to 18. Why are we being punished now, while we had nothing to do with it? Reconsider the ban.”
The good suffer because of the bad
Chairman of the West Frisian business group Hans-Peter Baars finds the measure understandable. “I get it, it’s a shame that the good now have to suffer because of the bad.”
He himself saw how an overweight truck rumbled past the work and understands that work cannot be done if heavy trucks continue to drive over the bridge. “I have the impression that it is mainly drivers from outside the region who drive past the work sites with trucks that are too heavy and are not aware of the weight restriction.”
It is especially important for the business association that the work is completed by September 1. It is ‘very unfortunate’ that these measures are being taken now, but if it is necessary to meet the deadline then so be it, says Baars.
Tags: Ban trucks frustration among transport companies drama
