Council raps Banks drivers
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• Haulage and mining organisation the Banks Group has introduced strict operation standards for its drivers following an embarrassing reprimand from Northumberland County Council.
Drivers at Banks have been told that they could face disciplinary procedures if they fail to adhere to the new policy on vehicle presentation, driver routeing and courtesy to other road users and pedestrians.
The changes result from a public rebuke last month by Northumberland over Banks breaking the agreed limits on lorry movements out of the company's Tranwell opencast mining site near Morpeth. According to Banks, the breach involved lorry movements "over a week or two" in 1993 exceeding by up to 10 journeys the 15a-day limit out of the site. Banks environmental manager Mark Dowdall says: "We find the whole issue an extreme embarrassment especially as we are trying to develop our environmental policy".
Since the incident the company has introduced a monthly environmental audit at each of its sites, including a check on how the coal is leaving, and is inviting county councils to watch the exercise at work.