Access delays licence
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• Malpas-based Alan Yoxall, whose bid to operate an artic was blocked on appeal by Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council, must now wait to see if a new application succeeds following an objection from Cheshire County Council.
Last July North Western Traffic Commissioner Martin Albu granted Yoxall's application to increase the authorisation on his licence from one vehicle to two vehicles and two trailers (CM 6-12 August). But that decision was quashed by the Transport Tribunal in January, on the grounds that there was no evidence that the operating centre was suitable for use by a 28tonne artic.
Yoxall's new application was opposed by Cheshire County Council, which said the entrance was unsafe for an artic.
Cheshire CC engineer Robert Hindhaugh told a Manchester public inquiry that the private road from the operating centre, at Sandstone View Farm, Bulkeley, joined the main Wrexha m-Nantwich road at right angles. Vehicles entering and leaving would have insufficient visibility to do so safely, he said, and approaching traffic would have inadequate warning of the slow turning and manoeuvring of a 28tonne artic. There was also a potential danger of vehicles having to stop behind an artic waiting to turn right The inquiry heard of three accidents in the area caused by vehicles travelling at high speed.
Gerald Chamberlain, managing director of Chamberlain Transport and a member of the MIA's Infrastructure Committee, said a 38tonne artic or drawbar travelling over the brow of the hill from Wrexham would not have time to see and stop if an artic was drawing out. Such vehicles would have a left-hand lock on, so if they braked severely, there would be a risk of jack-knifing If vehicles stacked up behind a stationary veh de, it could lead to drastic braking.
In reply to Fred Randall. for Yoxall. Chamberlain said that he did not class himself as an expert but he had 40 years' experience of driving HGVs.
Yoxall said that he considered the visibility from one metre back from the junction to be safe in both directions. James Harwood, the driver of Yoxall's artic, said that he had 18 years' experience and he had not had any visibility problems.
DOT traffic examiner Jane Windsor said that with the assistance of the police measurements were taken with VASCAR equipment. They showed that approaching vehicles had 133m of visibility when an artic was emerging and 117.5m when a stationary artic was waiting to turn. The minimum stopping distance from 60mph was 73m metres.
She felt that though the entrance was not ideal, if used with care it was safe.
The Commissioner is to give his decision in writing