Sheep threaten 0-Iic
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• North Western Licensing Authority Roy Hutchings has reserved decision on whether to grant an additional articulated vehicle to an East Lancashire sheep farmer following representations from people living on the lane to his farm.
Arthur Pooley of 011erton Farm, Withnefi wants to add one vehicle and trailer to his existing national licence for three vehicles and trailers.
Keith Ditchfield, of 011erton Fold Farm Cottage, said that he suffered from noise nuisance and vibration. The lane is 8.2m wide and not suitable for 38 tonne artics. He said a wall has been damaged and produced photographs showing articulated lorries negotiating a difficult bend outside his house.
In reply to Hutchings, Ditchfield said the damage was caused by a low loader and not one of Pooley's vehicles.
One morning he had been unable to get out because the lane was blocked by a lorry whose brakes had failed.
He was unable to say whose vehicles disturbed him early in the morning and late at night. There were also problems with vibration and lack of privacy and in dry weather the dust made his house and windows dirty.
Questioned by Jonathan Lawton, for Pooley, Ditchfield agreed that he had a oneseventh responsibility for the maintenance of the lane but he had spent nothing on it. He agreed that Pooley maintains the lane.
John Atherton, of Merton Fold Farm, said there were ditches on either side and if a heavy vehicle was met he had to back his vehicle up to a passing place. Five lorries had gone into the ditch in a fortnight; none of them was Pooley's.
At night headlights shone on the front of his house. He could not identify the lorries but they arrived between lam and 3am and unloaded sheep at the farm buildings. When the ramps were let down, the sheep ran over them and bleated.
Frank Foster of 011erton Fold, complained about noise, vibration, dust and sheep's hooves on the ramps. He said he frequently had to go to his daughter's house to get a night's sleep.
Pooley said that he bought 5 and sold sheep as well as fattening and breeding them. He needed the additional vehicle because of the growth in his business.
If granted, to some extent it would minimise the unsociable hours operation, but vehicles leaving early and late could not be avoided as he had to service slaughter houses throughout the country and collect sheep from markets. About 20% of the work is subcontracted.
Cross-examined on behalf of the residents, Pooley said that the business would not be viable without the night operation.
He told Hutchings his drivers are specially trained to deal with livestock and are instructed to avoid noise. He personally supervised the traffic most of the time. He repaired and maintained the lane at his own expense, sometimes using as much as eight tonnes of stone a week.