Questions raised on long-standing depot
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Complaints about the Poole depot of Wyvern Cargo, in Cranbrook Road, brought the company to a public inquiry before Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Frances Burton when its licence was due for review.
Councillor James Plummer said the depot was in a residential area. Residents complained about early morning noise, fumes, vibration from artics damaging property, and road safety dangers.
Plummer suggested movements were banned before 08:00hrs. Wyvern managing director John Probert felt such a ban would be difficult. Probert said Wyvern had operated from the depot for 24 years and for the past 18 had distributed parcels. The depot had authorisation for 16 vehicles: the 10 in possession did not exceed 7.5 tonnes. Ten 3.5tanners were also operated from the site.
Parcels, and sometimes other goods, were delivered to the site by artic,s. For the company, Jonathan Lawton said it appreciated the sensitivity of the depot site, but said most of the complaints related to visiting vehicles. He also said the surrounding roads carried 107 buses per day.
The DTC said she found no conclusive evidence in relation to fumes or authorised vehicles causing vibration—she said this should be addressed to the highway authority which might impose route and weight restrictions. There was a problem with noise when vehicles started up, and she hoped this would be minimised. She felt the hours restrictions agreed with the local authority, no movement from 22:00 to 06:00hrs, would be sufficient.
There was a problem with reversing bleepers on fork-lift trucks but there were health and safety considerations. It was a difficult balance.
The company agreed not to use the vehicle wash before 08:00hrs on Saturdays, to warm the vehicles up for only five minutes: and not to base more than four 17.5-tonners at the depot. The company said it would tell drivers waiting in the street to do so for the minimum time. Efforts should be made to reduce the fork-lift truck noise.