THE WEIGH IT IS • I refer to Trevor Probert's
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letter "Points on procedure" (CM 15-21 December) which mentions the Department of Transport weighbridge installation at Ross-on-Wye, on the main A40.
As managing director of Central Weighing, the Kidderminster-based manufacturer of the weighing systems installed at Ross-on-Wye, I must clarify the misleading comments in this article.
The Ross site incorporates two weighing systems, a 60tonne twin-plate weighbridge, and a 20-tonne single-axle weighbridge plate. This is the first installation of its type in the UK. and was designed to provide an alternative to dynamic weighbridge installations.
The equipment provides high accuracy weighing to ± 10kg per weighplate and, in normal circumstances, only the twinplate section is used for enforcement purposes. Weighing is completed in about 15 seconds, which is far faster than dynamic weighing, and an instant display and printout of distribution and gross weights direct on to the enforcement document with vehicle registration number, time, date, and vehicle type concludes the operation.
Individual axle weights can also be checked and recorded on the same document if the distribution weights give cause for concern. The system had, since its installation in 1987, proved to be reliable, accurate and highly efficient.
The placing of a poster on the windscreen, and subsequent monitoring of the vehicle, are nothing to do with the normal operation of this site, but were part of independent tests being carried out on three high-speed, weigh-inmotion devices located in the main carriageways.
The Central Weighing equip
ment was being used purely to provide certified axle and gross weights for these tests during a two-week period. If successful, this equipment could be used as a filter at normal road speeds prior to slower speed weighing for enforcement. Richard W Stokes Managing director, Central Weighing, Kidderminster, Hereford & Worcester,