Villagers fail to stop Vauxhalls
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• Angry villagers have failed to stop three transporter firm; using their shared operating centre to distribute 300 Vauxhall cars a week.
Following a massive public backlash against the firms — Abbey Hill, Tolman and Auto car — 16 residents of Slip End, near Luton, BedfordshirE made valid representations at ; public enquiry last week in an attempt to block the renewal c the companies' 0-licences.
They complained that noise and diesel fumes spoilt weekends in the garden, and truck movements disturbed them in the early hours of the morning Distributor Deliveries, trading as Autocar, had applied for the renewal of its licence from Slip End for 30 vehicles and trailers; Abbey Hill Vehicle Services had applied for a renewal for 25 vehicles and trailers, and Toleman Holding for renewal foi 11 vehicles and trailers. _ For the three companies, Colin Ward said that any restriction on the hours of operation could hit Vauxhall hard. Cars awaiting to be moved out of the company's factory would pile up and cause the production line to slow down or even halt. Local companies supplying Vauxhall with components would also face problems.
Wayne Denton, Abbey Hill's managing director, said car manufacturers had two main peaks: the beginning of August and in January/February. The manufacturer had a problem meeting demand and looked to the carrier to solve it.
Commenting that any restriction on the company's operations would be catastrophic, Denton said Abbey Hill had spent thousands of pounds on cutting truck noise. New vehicles were equipped with air suspension and a "soft-tie" system was being introduced instead of chains.
In renewing the licences, Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority Charles Arnold-Baker imposd a condition on all three banning the maintenance of vehicles between 20:00hrs and 06:00hrs, and a condition on the Abbey Hill licence relating to the access to be used during the night.