Inter-City loses base
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by Steve McQueen MI Five more haulage companies could be forced to abandon a former US army air base after TDG subsidiary Inter-City Transport was refused permission to stay there on environmental grounds,
Warrington Borough Council says it will now pursue objections against the remaining companies which, like TDG, have been operating at the site near Warrington on a temporary licence since last year. Inter-City plans to appeal against last week's decision, although additional objections from the Highways Authority have since been lodged.
Manchester-based Falcon Distribution and Chris Hayter Transport of Witney in Oxfordshire, which already hold temporary 0-licences for the site, have applied for full ()licences. Vehicles from Exel Logistics, local operator Home Express and another TDG company, Williams Distribution, also use the site.
After a public inquiry, Deputy Licen
Alsing Authority jack Levin found convinc
• ing evidence of • "disturbance due to noise, vibration, fumes, both day and particularly at night". Local residents claimed that there were more than 650 LGV movements per day. Levin added that the road in question was only 5.5m to Gm (18-20 feet) wide and unable to cope with the traffic (CM 9-15 February).
Inter-City had applied to operate 60 vehicles and 80 trailers. The managing director of TDG's transport division, Steve Badger, says that regardless of the outcome of the appeal, the need for an operating centre in the north-west remains unchanged: "A number of other distribution and warehousing sites in the region have been identified," he says.
A public inquiry was held at Warrington Town Hall on 20 February. The decision will take effect from 31 March unless an appeal is filed.