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Police confirm loM project trucks were unroadworthy
Page 8
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By Chris Tindall LANCASHIRE Police has confirmed that two trucks belonging to a Norfolk contractor working on an Isle of Man government project were unroadworthy and had to be transported home 272 miles on a low loader.
Following a Freedom of Information request from CM, the Sergeant for Heysham Port's policing team says two out of eight HGVs stopped and registered to RI Holbrook had brake imbalances.
Last week, the Norwich-based firm said just one vehicle had been sent home for being unroadworthy (CM 12 November).
The revelation will make uncom fortable reading for the Manx government, which has defended construction contractor Colas's decision not to use local hauliers for its airport extension scheme. It said it had to accept that a requirement to utilise local resources "must also be reflective of the need for the contractor to ensure that the services they are obtaining in this case trucks are fit for purpose, safe, competent and provide value for money': Lancashire Police says that of the eight RJ Holbrook vehicles stopped two had a brake imbalance, which is a minor defect. "At the officer's discretion, and as the vehicles had not left the confines of the port or entered the mainland road network, it was decided, with the cooperation of the company, that these two defective vehicles would be transported by low-loader so as to avoid the commission of any offences on the highway.
-Had these vehicles been stopped by VOSA on the highway, a delay ed prohibition could have been issued."
It adds no further action is being taken by Lancashire Police, but a report has been forwarded to VOSA.
A VOSA spokeswoman says: "Because VOSA was not directly involved in this police-led operation, we are unable to comment about the details.., found on these vehicles. Any investigation we might undertake is a matter for VOSA and the operator concerned."
RJ Holbrook was unable to y respond before CM went to press.