FTA 'extremely worried' with fines issued near Co-op DC
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By Chris Tindall THE FREIGHT Transport Association (FTA) is to investigate why 742 LGVs delivering to a Co-op DC in Andover, Hampshire, have attracted fines totalling £371,000 after apparently breaching road restrictions.
Figures released by Test Valley Borough Council showed that between October 2011 and September 2012, 742 LGVs used barred routes, including the A343, the A342 and the A3057 to reach the depot on the Andover Business Park. A spokeswoman for Test Valley Borough Council said: "These are in the process of being paid to the county council."
The FTA said it would investigate the legality of issuing £500 fines months after the breaches were alleged to have taken place. The FTA's Natalie Chapman said members have contacted the association alarmed at the amounts they had been ordered to pay.
"Issuing fines to this degree is ridiculous," she said.
"I am worried that fines have been put in place without a proper appeals process. The fines issued go back to spring last year. If the purpose was to ensure lorries were taking correct routes, you need to identify where they are deviating and take action," said Chapman.
A Co-op spokesman said it took issues over deliveries to its Andover site seriously: "On a busy day, there can be more than 600 vehicle movements on and off the site and, unfortunately, some routes that are off limits to LGVs most of the time have been used inappropriately, resulting in the penalty notices. We are working with our partners to ensure they avoid the restricted roads and only use the permitted access route on to our depot site, via the A303, to try and resolve the issue."