BR'S Locals had safety fears • Campaigning ado residents failed
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to block a bid by a Cheshire international haulier to treble the number of vehicles and trailers on his licence.
Giovanni Pirolini, trading as PGP International, wanted to increase the authorisation on his licence from one vehicle and one trailer to three vehicles and three trailers based at Unit 3 Gawend Lane, Lyme Green, Macclesfield.
Pirolini said no maintenance or fuelling was carried out at the site. He was engaged on international operations; his current vehicle and trailer were parked there about once every six weeks before going to the main dealer for maintenance. The vehicles would enter and leave the site once a week at the very most.
The residents expressed concern about the amount of traffic using Gawend Lane, saying it had reached saturation point. They expressed concern about damage to verges and the road surface breaking up, saying the lane was unsuitable for use by heavy vehicles—any additional traffic would be unacceptable and dangerous. They were unable to say that Pirolini's vehicle had caused any specific damage but they pointed out that the junction between the lane and the main Macclesfield to Leek road was dangerous.
North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Brian Horner pointed out that there had been no objection from the police or the district council. He said that an objection from Cheshire County Council had not met the criteria, and that was perhaps why it was not represented. It was the county council that had the power to do something about such problems.
Pirolini said the vehicles would leave early in the morning when the traffic was very light. There would never be more than one vehicle coming back at one time. He needed an operating centre "once in a blue moon" as the vehicles would be operating between London and Florence, and Birmingham and Florence and Lisbon. He needed a secure site because he carried high-value loads. He agreed the site was also an operating centre for STD with eight vehicles.
Granting the increase, Horner said he had a great deal of sympathy with the residents, but their complaints mainly related to highway and planning matters. It was ludicrous that planning authority was given for industrial sites in the middle of residential areas. In the circumstances, he found it surprising the highway authority had not seen fit to improve the roadway and the junction with the main road.