Willmotts wins fight against local residents
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The haulier managed to secure its application for more trucks and trailers despite objections from residents
By Roger Brown
WILLMOTTS TRANSPORT has secured a large increase in the number of trucks and trailers it can base at its Shepton Mallet facility, despite objections from several nearby residents.
In a written decision following a public inquiry (PI), Tim Hayden, Deputy Trafic Commissioner (DTC) for the Western Trafic Area (pictured), granted the Somerset haulage irm’s application for 25 vehicles and the same number of trailers, up from ive vehicles and ive trailers.
Willmotts had asked for the licence increase at its Waterlip site so that vehicles from a haulier it had acquired in 2010 – DJB Haulage based in Radstock, Somerset, and Southampton – could be stationed there. David Buxton, director of Willmotts Transport, said if his company’s application was successful, the number of vehicle movements through the village would actually fall, since the DJB trucks wouldn’t have to travel back to Radstock every day. He told the hearing that during the week, the gates to the site open at 6am and close at 10pm, while on Saturday they are open from 6am to 1pm.
On Sundays the gates are locked other than when vehicles arrive and gain access. However, Kenneth Wagg, a nearby resident, told the hearing the number of HGVs in the Waterlip area had reached an “unacceptable” level. He also said he had seen vehicles obstructing the road by their turning manoeuvres and parking outside the gates.
Another neighbour, Ann Crowcombe, was concerned about the overall imbalance between commercial and residential land uses within the village. She told the hearing that other residents could currently “taste diesel in the air” and that she feared extra HGVs in the area would cause more fumes.
Amy Comer, VOSA Trafic Examiner (TE) said the site had historically been suitable for 55 vehicles and 100 trailers, and that as recently as 2005 it had been authorised for 45 vehicles and 55 trailers. According to Comer, the operating centre was currently large enough for at least 30 vehicles and 30 trailers, and that access to and from the main road was suitable.
The DTC said: “The question which I have asked myself is whether the granting of this variation would adversely affect the enjoyment of the representors’ properties, and the evidence that they have provided falls far short of demonstrating that to be the case.
“Representations made by the representors, along with the evidence that they have provided to the PI, does not [show] me that any adverse environmental impact would arise from the granting of this application in relation to the use of their respective properties.”