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A grave view of tombstone overloading
Page 23
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Grossly overloading a Transit van with gravestones has led to fines and costs of nearly £2,000 for both the driver and the van's owner.
Chester-based Blackwells Stonecraft and its driver Andrew Owens were ordered to pay £1,980 in fines and costs when they appeared before the Wrexham Magistrates and pleaded guilty Prosecuting for Vosa, Andrea Bennett said that the vehicle, which was on a journey from Chester to Mold laden with gravestones, was stopped in a check at Ewloc on the A494 in March. The first axle was overloaded by 1,190kg and the second axle by more than 36%.
Owens said that on that day, the person responsible for loading was off ill and that his deputy was on holiday. He and a colleague were asked to load the van.
If managing director Stephen Blackwell had been present, he would have been told what the weight limits were.
While Blackwell was out, a call was received asking for more gravestones to be collected. They carried on loading the van after every request instead of unloading and going back.
Blackwell said that there had been an unusual set of circumstances on the day. The member of staff who usually carried out the loading had called in sick and there were a number of urgent jobs that had to be done.
A new administrator possessed an information sheet that explained the rules, but had not read it properly.
Blackwell said they did not take their responsibility lightly having run three vehicles for 25 years.
The company was fined £1,350, with £265 costs. Owens was fined £265, with £100 costs.