I would like to take this opportunity to draw your readers' attention to the fact that new European rules, which effectively ban lorry drivers from taking out floats on their days off could drastically change traditional carnival parades across the UK.
Indeed, one parade in the south west of England has had to scrap large floats from its parade and others are likely to suffer the same fate.
The new European Drivers Hours Regulation, which was resolutely opposed by Conservatives in the European Parliament, means that lorry drivers must log all driving time, even voluntary, on their tachograph and cannot count it as part of rest time.
The rules say drivers must have 45 hours of continuous rest once a week and this is normally taken at weekends when they would previously have been able to assist in carnivals.
Sir Robert Atkins, MEP for Blackpool
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