A third delay for Connect UK
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• Fledgling parcels carrier Connect UK is showing a marked reluctance to leave its nest: for the third time this year the company has postponed its launch date.
The reason given this time is that there have been delays in finalising deals with hauliers. The company has been busy moving in to a £6.5 million corporate headquarters and central hub which it is buying on the Great South West Road (A30) at Heathrow.
The latest launch date for Connect UK is 1 September. The company claims to have allocated all 350 parcels franchises and to have installed nearly 27,000 worth of computer equipment in each of its 350 franchise areas. Training in the use of the computer equipment has been taking place at the company's headquarters this week.
Despite this activity there are some indications that Connect UK is slow in repaying deposits to hauliers who decide to back out. O J E Woodhouse, a Welsh haulage company, decided not to continue with Connect UK when it was given its area allocation. David Woodhouse says this was far larger than originally expected, covering roughly a quarter of Wales. Since deciding to pull out four weeks ago, Woodhouse has sent two letters and made several phone calls demanding his money back. He says he is now considering legal action. 0 Neighbouring haulier F J Edwards was offered exactly the same franchise, although he was told it had not been offered to anyone else. He too turned down the franchise in early July, but has not yet received his £550 deposit back. 0 Another company which we spoke to in May, which was then enthusiastic about Connect UK, has discovered that it has not been allocated the area it sought. This information came not from Connect UK, but from the haulier which now has the franchise. Three weeks after asking for its money back the company is still waiting.
Many hauliers, however, are still enthusiastic about Connect. 0 Jack Roberts of Jack Roberts Transport of Great Blakenham admits he was becoming worried about the company until he attended the training session this week: "I have now got great hopes," says Roberts. "I was impressed at Heathrow — they have got their act together. 0 Gordon Powell of CVH Transport says he was very, very impressed with the computer training at Heathrow this week: "I was staggered by the building, and the company's commitment is phenomenal," says Powell. "Connect has been perfectly honourable in everything it has done with me. To set up a venture like that over 18 months without any revenue coming in must have taken some doing."