Shared site with block on growth
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Eastern LA Brigadier Compton Boyd has allowed R&J Heavy Haulage and Richards Freight to share an operating centre with two other operators on an old airfield at Abbess Boding, Essex.
But, following opposition from Epping Forest District Council and local residents, Boyd said he considers the site is environmentally unsuitable for unlimited expansion.
RL and JCA Thwaites, trading as R&J Heavy Haulage, applied for a licence for three vehicles and three trailers based at Matching Airfield. RM Knight, trading as Richards Freight, wanted a licence for four vehicles and 10 trailers at the same site.
The airfield is already used by Fallon and Pring (licenced for two vehicles and one trailer) and Cooper and Keeble (five vehicles and four trailers). A licence application is in the pipeline from JA & PA Smith for one vehicle and one trailer.
The LA heard that the surrounding land was mainly agricultural with few houses so the trucks did not spoil anyone's view and there was plenty of parking space. However, access was by narrow, unclassified country lanes with many bends. Heavy trucks would damage the verge and accelerate road wear. There were no properly con structed passing places and at one point the road was just 3.8m wide.
Boyd agreed that the residents of White Roding suffered from the effects of heavy vehicles passing through their village but not all those vehicles were based at Matching Airfield.
Trucks on the airfield could not be seen or heard from the nearest houses, he added, and the site was big enough to handle a large number of vehicles—but if that happened it would have a significant impact on residents living along the approach roads.
The highway and planning authorities seemed unable, or unwilling, to improve the situafion. However, the council's case was strong enough for the LA to reduce the number of authorised vehicles with licence conditions controlling parking and movement times.
He granted R&J Heavy Haulage a licence for two vehicles and three trailers; and Richards Freight one for three vehicles and five trailers.