1.
CU SIGN "ANSE"
0.03

2.
LV LORRY BLOCKING ROADWAY
0.06

3.
GV & SV LORRY DRIVERS STAND AROUND IN ROADWAY
0.14

4.
LV TRAFFIC JAM OF LORRIES THROUGH TOWN
0.17

5.
GV LORRIES BLOCKING ROADWAY
0.21

6.
SV CARS OBSTRUCTED BY LORRY
0.25

7.
LV LORRY DRIVERS SPREAD ACROSS ROAD
0.29

8.
LV ZOOM TO GV LORRIES IN JAM
0.37

9.
GV & SV LORRY SWUNG ACROSS ROADWAY
0.45

10.
GV LORRY DRIVERS PAN TO PARKED LORRIES
0.49

11.
SV & GV DRIVERS PLAY BALL GAME ON ROADSIDE
0.59



Initials EH/V/BOB/PS EH/V/BOB/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AT LEAST 3,000 LORRIES BLOCKED THREE MAIN ROADS NORTH OF LYONS ALL DAY YESTERDAY AS THEIR DRIVERS PROTESTED AGAINST A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BAN ON HEAVY TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THE TOWNS OF VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-SAONE AND ANSE AT NIGHT; THE BAN WOULD HAVE FORCED THEM TO USE THE A.6 MOTORWAY AND PAY THE MOTORWAY ROAD TOLL.

THE BAN WAS IMPOSED AFTER LOCAL RESIDENTS COMPLAINED THAT THE CONSTANT THUNDER OF HEAVY PASSING THROUGH THEIR TOWNS AT NIGHT WAS CAUSING THEM SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

THE PROTEST STARTED WITH ABOUT 300 LORRIES BLOCKING THE MAIN ROAD AND MOTORWAY IN THE MORNING. BY THE AFTERNOON LOCAL OFFICIALS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 3,000 LORRIES PARKED ON BOTH THESE ROADS AND ON ANOTHER ROUTE WHICH HAD BEEN USED AS A DIVERSION. BY THE EVENING, ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN PARIS AND LYON WAS AT STANDSTILL.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE DRIVERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS BROUGHT OFFERS OF A TEMPORARY RE-OPENING OF THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH ANSE AND VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-SAONE AND OF A TEMPORARY WAIVING OF THE A.6 TOLL, WHILE TALKS WOULD BE HELD ON ITS REDUCTION FROM EIGHT TO FOUR FRANCS. BUT IT PROVED DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE DRIVERS INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS.

WHILE EFFORTS CONTINUED TO FIND A DEFINITE SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE, THE STRANDED DRIVERS WERE COPING AS BEST AS THEY COULD WITH THE PROVISIONING OF LIVESTOCK, AND WENT FORGING FOR FOOD THEMSELVES IN THE LOCAL SHOPS. SOME PLAYED THE FRENCH VERSION OF BOWLS ON THE ROADSIDE.