Bridge too weak for J and B
Page 18
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• J and B Services has been asked by the West Midlands Deputy Licensing Authority to promise not to drive their artics over a rickety canal bridge. No vehicles over 7.5 tonnes should use the bridge.
Last December the Deputy LA refused the J and B partners, John Bailey and Phillip Chaplin, a licence for three vehicles and trailers based at Spring Wood, because the access was along an unmade lane over the bridge, following objections from British Waterways (CM 7-13 January).
A further application, for a licence for two vehicles and trailers at a different operating centre, Birch Coppice, was subsequently granted after it was said maintenance would be carried out by a commercial garage. Following complaints from British Waterways, however, that the canal bridge was still being used, the partners were called to disciplinary proceedings.
For the partners, Michael Carless said it had to be conceded that the canal bridge had been used. Some maintenance work had been done in the lane outside Spring Wood and the partners' bunkering facilities were there. Birch Coppice was insecure and equipment had been stolen from trailers parked there. The partners had now negotiated for the use of Courtauld's yard at Nuneaton, and a variation application was being submitted.
Bailey said that he had not realised that the bridge entered into the second application for a licence, as it had never been mentioned. The cracks under the bridge had been repaired.
John Summers, for British Waterways, said that as far as they were concerned the physical condition of the bridge was exactly the same as it had been last year, and they were not aware of any work having been undertaken to the bridge.
Taking no action against the licence, and granting interim authority for the new operating centre, the Deputy LA said that he appreciated that he was in a grey area as far as the bridge was concerned. He could not put a condition on the licence but he was concerned about public safety.