Harwood awaits ruling
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I • Lancashire haulage contractor Thomas Harwood and Sons must wait to learn if it has overcome environmental objections to its plans to take over the depot of Bolton Transport and Trading.
The firm holds a licence for 11 vehicles and eight trailers and applied to use the former Bolton Transport premises as an additional operating centre.
The application which first came before North Western Licensing Authority Roy Hutchings in March was opposed by the former Greater Manchester County Council, Bolton Borough Council and the police. There were also representations from 16 residents (CM, March 29).
A similar application was refused by the LA in 1985 because he was not satisfied there was sufficient parking for all the vehicles authorised to both Harwood and Bolton Transport, but the Bolton Transport licence has since been revoked.
When the hearing continued, Jane Heath, for the borough, said Bolton has taken over GMC's highway functions.
It has no doubt that the operation of heavy vehicles on land to the rear of the terraced property on Tonge Moor Lane would have a severely detrimental effect on the environment.
The evidence was that the use of the site by Bolton Transport over the past five years was minimal and nobody could ever remember more than six vehicles having been operated from it.
Consequently, the proposed use would be a significant material change over the previous use. The total unsuitability of the site made it impossible for any licence conditions to meet the probl For the firm, John Backhouse said that there is no history of any accidents caw or contributed to by heavy goods vehicles entering or leaving the premises.
The firm's existing operat ing centre is limited in capac and that is why it is seeking additional operating centre.
Tonge Moor Lane would used primarily for the parkir of trailers. No maintenance, refueling or transhipment of goods would take place ther The vehicles would not lx entering and leaving at unso dal hours and an undertakin. has been given that trailers would not be reversed in or out.
The firm proposes to mak use of the site in a manner which would eve the least e vironmental offence.
Hutchings is to put his de, sion in writing at a later dat(