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Council objects to operating centre despite 30 safe years
Page 32
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A COUNTY council has failed to block the continued use of a site on road safety grounds after an inquiry heard that it had been used as an operating centre for 30 years with no history of traffic accidents.
Burscough-based New Lane Transport appeared before North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna seeking a new international licence for 15 vehicles and 20 trailers. A proposal to base five vehicles and 10 trailers at Smithynook Farm. Scadsbrick was opposed by Lancashire County Council.
Appearing for the company, Andrew Woolfall said New Lane Transport was a new company taking over the transport side of New Lane Temperature Controlled Distribution. The latter held a licence for 20 vehicles and 25 trailers, with 16 vehicles and 20 trailers authorised at Smithynook Farm.
The farm had been owned by the Wright family for many years and had been used as an operating centre for 30 years. The tractor units were kept at another operating centre at New Lane, Burscough. The trailers were spot hired when required and returned to the hire company when not needed,but from time to time some were parked at the farm. The tractor units also visited the farm to refuel, hut its use as an operating centre would be infrequent, he added.
Woolfall said if the licence was granted the existing licence would be surrendered and the number of vehicles and trailers using the site would be reduced.
Appearing for the county council, Keith Cameron said the forward visibility at the site entrance was substantially sub-standard. The access was poorly designed and vehicles could randomly access the site over a 40m section of road, creating confusion to all site and road users to the detriment of road safety.
However, traffic examiner Keith Newton believed the site was perfectly safe.
New Lane director Willi am Wright said there would be 16 vehicle movements in and out each day.