John Harris moves after 30 years
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• After 30 years of operation from SE1 John Harris (Cartage) Ltd. has moved to a new 12,000 sq.ft. warehouse and distribution depot at Creek Road, Deptford. The site was selected because of its close proximity to London's docks and wharves and the trunk roads to Dover, Folkestone, and Felixstowe via Dartford Tunnel.
Overcrowding in the SE district became an embarrassment to John Harris when vehicles had to keep on the move while awaiting consignments. At the new premises there is adequate off-street parking available.
There is 8,600 sq.ft. of covered storage space which is used to store expensive foodstuffs that have to be kept at a constant temperature by thermostatically controlled heaters.
In planning the new premises the company has intentionally omitted space for main mining vehicles. Mr. S. Mansfield, managing director, told me: "The new legislation demands a high standard of efficiency in vehicle maintenance and it is my intention that we will attain the standard; for this reason we are sending our vehicles to specialists who will maintain them under contract."
He added that the company was in business to store and distribute goods and that the company's capital had been invested towards that end.
Both MoT examiners and PLA health inspectors examined the premises before the opening. The Ministry was carrying out what has become an almost routine inspection before granting the continuation of a carrier's licence. The premises have also been passed as suitable for the storage of food pending clearance by the Port health inspectors.