Heavy loads warning from Mr. Marsh
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• Mr. Richard Marsh has written to vehicle operators reminding them of the requirement to give advance notice of the movement of heavy abnormal loads and engineering plant by road.
This follows a number of complaints from highway and bridge authorities. Some operators have failed to give any notice and there have also been many instances of late notification and insufficient information about the proposed route.
Failure to give proper notice makes it impossible for the authorities concerned to carry out the necessary check.
The Minister points out that the "consequences of public safety, particularly if there should be a bridge failure, and the liability falling upon the vehicle operator
may be very serious.
The Motor Vehicles (Authorization of Special Types) General Order, 1966, requires six days' clear notice to be given if the gross weight exceeds 75 tons. Two days clear notice is required in any other case where a weight limit laid in the Construction and Use Regulations is exceeded. The notice must be in the form specified in part II of Schedule 2 of the Order.
In his letter Mr. Marsh says: "Hauliers will wish to note that under the Transport Bill, a conviction for a weight offence (which might be the consequence of not notifying properly) could put his operator's licence at risk."
The relevant part of the Bill is section 69(1) (b) and 69(4).