Hauliers face move
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• by David Craik Thirty South Wales tipper operators fear for their futures following Lafarge' Redland Aggregates' decision to sell its depot at Taff's Well, outside Cardiff.
Owner-driver Terry Impey of Cardiff claims that he and other owner-drivers working out of the plant have been "left in the dark" over the company's decision.
"We know absolutely nothing," he says. "All we know is that it is going to be sold. Who exactly they are looking to sell it to is anybody's guess."
Taff's Well area manager Andrew Gay says the decision to sell the plant was taken or 19 January. "We are confident that a buyer for the depot will emerge as soon as possible," he says. "Whether that new purchaser will want to keep on the hauliers currently working out of the depot will, of course, be up to them."
Gay adds that the sale is a result of "company restructuring". He believes that about 30 franchised hauliers work out of Taffs Well. if the plant closes, they claim they will either have to relocate or race closure.
As well as the franchised operators a number of ownerdrivers do occasional work from the plant. Martin Christopher of Cardiff-based MS Supplies South Wales says! "We buy material from the plant and then haul it ourselves. We are obviously very concerned whether this arrangement will continue with a new purchaser."