South Wales Route Reconstruction
Page 55
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vuoRK is to start at once on reconVV structing the Heads of the Valleys road, part of the link between South Wales and the Midlands. The A465 between Abergavenny and Hirwaun. which passes through mountainous cowltry and rises to nearly 1,300 ft., will be made into • a modern highway for .24 miles. At the eastern end: it will be linked to the Ross Spur motorway, now under construction,. by the modernization of the existing road between Abergavenny and Ross. The new road; with a 33-ft. carriageway, will leave the A40 south of Abergavenny and run in a north-westerly curve through the valley of the Usk to Gilwern. A new bridge will carry the road over the Usk. From the village of Gilwem, the highway will run south-westwards to Brynmawr. For the last 21 miles it will climb nearly 700 ft., at a gradient of 1-in-20, to replace the present road over Black Rock Hill, which has gradients of 1-in-8. On this length, the new road will be carried through Clydach Gorge on a shelf cut into the rocky hillside. The removal of more than 300,000 tons of rock will be involved. The road will cross the River Clydach on a new 400-ft.long viaduct.
SEVERN BRIDGE—NEW STAGE PLANNING of the Severn bridge and approach roads reached a new stage, last week, when the Minister of Transport issued draft regulations providing for alterations.
These are necessary because access to the road, apart from the terminal junctions with A38 and A48, will be limited to junctions with the B4461 and the Newhouse Farm Road, and the future Wye Valley link road. • TAIL SKIDS SHOULD BE FITTED
HAULIERS who send vehicles to 'Liverpool docks with goods for export have been recommended to fit their vehicles with tail skids to facilitate unloading at the quayside. This suggestion was made at a meeting of the transport committee of Liverpool Chamber of Commercelast week, when the question of delays at the docks was raised. It was stated that although ship owners normally provided cranes and slings, the responsibility for unloading rested upon the lorry drivers.
N.A.A.F.I. DRIVERS' WAGES UP TRANSPORT employees of the Navy,
Army and Air Force Institutes have had their wages increased by 7s. a week in London, and 6s. 6d. a week in the provinces, as a result of negotiations by the Transport and General Workers' Union. The following are the new London rates, with the provincial in parentheses: Vehicles of 1 ton or less, £9 16s. 6d. (£9 6s.); 1-5 tons, £10 Os. 6d. (t9 10s.): 5-8 tons, £10 5s. 6d. (£9 15s.): 8-12 tons. £10 13s. (£10 2s. 6c1.).
Market • Annexe Site Opposed.
OPPOS11710N is being organiied . against London County Council's proposal to convert a 5-acre. site, known as St. Luke's printing works, into an annexe. to Covent Garden market. It is stated that 500 lorries.could be dealt with at a time at the annexe. The L.C.C. have been looking for a suitable place for a Covent Garden annexe to relieve the congestion at the Main market, and .the site they have chosen is at the intersection of City Road and old Street. This is a buSy junction, and in the, vicinity arc narrow residential streets, schools and an eye hospital. Last week a Protest meeting was held at the House of Commons. Lord Luke said that the plan Was not helpful td the Minister of Transport's wish to keep traffic moving. Car. J. Samuels, leader of Shoreditch Borough Council, stated that the L.C.C.'s scheme Was " born out of desperation without regard to the facts." A deputation of six M.P.s is to approach the Minister of Housing and Local Government on the matter. In the area itself there is puzzlement„over why the old Caledonian market should not have been selected.
PRINCIPLE FOR CARELESSDRIVING CASES STATED
WHEN a driver is charged with VI' driving without due care and attention, it does not matter if his failure to exercise caution results from a deliberate act or an error of judgment. This was stated by Lord Parker, Lord Chief Justice, in the Queen's Bench Division last week. A lorry driver had-been summoned at Ludlow for driving without due care and attention at All Stretton. Salop, but the magistrates dismissed the case as they concluded that his actions were deliberate and calculated. This decision was taken to appeal before Lord Parker, who said that the magistrates would be directed to consider " whether the defendant exercised that degree of care and attention that a reasonable and prudent driver would exercise in the circumstances."
070,000 RISE IN COSTS FORESEEN L'ORESEE1NG an increase in operating I costs of about £370,000 in the coming year. Mr. F. S. Taylor, general manager of Newcastle upon Tyne Transport Department, is to ask the city council to apply for an increase in bus fares later in the year. if necessary. Although a net profit of £146,000 for the year ending March 31 was anticipated, Mr. Taylor now faces a possible wages increase of £128,000, a reduction in working hours costing £150,000, and a loss of £92,000 created by the proposed abolition of the "eight-standing" rule. In addition, a fleet-replacement programme would cost about £2m. The undertaking, he said, did not want to be in the position of having to wait six months before they could put -1-d. on the fares.
Fog Settles Dispute Over Routes
F0(1 brought about a quick settling of differences between applicants and objectors before the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners at Bridlington last week. East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd.,. were applying to vary the routes of various stage-carriage services to Driffield, but were opposed by Driffield Urban District Council, who disputed the suggested rauteing through the town on grounds' of road safety. . After hearing the evidence. Maj. P. S. Eastwood. chairman, looked at the thickening fog outside and asked the parties if they wished to continue the case the next day. There was a hasty consultation between them, and an agreement was reached subject to detailed discussions on the routes being held. Mr. W. R. Hargrave, for E.Y..M.S., said that the proposed routes would provide better links with railway stations, and might induce some people who -had given up using public transport in favour of private to return. The industry could not afford to lose any more traffic, and road-rail links should be improved. The concern had been considering this for some years. and had made provision, for direct road services from railway stations at 20 centres.
LANCASHIRE TO TRY DIFFERENT CHASSIS
HIAVING to replace 116 ambulances, Lancashire Health Committee are to buy 30 chassis of different types so that, after comparative trials in service, the remaining new vehicles may be selected accordingto operational experience. The order for the 30 chassis will be equally divided between Bedford, Karrier and B.M.C. models, and five of the B.M.C. types will be oilers.
Five companies will be asked to—build the bodywork. Some bodies may be partly of plastics construction, but it is hoped to obtain a small number wholly made of this material.
OVERLOADING GIVES CONCERN
CONCERNED about the overloading of farm lorries, especially those carry ing sugar-beet, Bury Si. Edmunds Corporation have stressed the need for greater co-operation between hauliers, farmers and weights and measures inspectors. The watch committee, having considered six cases of alleged overloading, have instructed the town clerk to prosecute in three, if he is satisfied with the evidence, and to warn those concerned in the others.
MORE NIGHT-WORK
M1GHT-SHIFT working on Bedford I goods vehicles was extended this week. Light-van. assembly, and the painting and trimming of lorry cabs and bodies, will provide work for 150 additional workers who have been taken on. By next month, the new working will result in an increase in production of 27 units a day. This will raise the output of light vans to 193 a day.