Tarmac closures force four hauliers to find new work
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By Joanna Bourke
FOUR HAULIERS working for Tarmac Building Products will have to look for new revenue streams after the concrete giant conirmed site closures in its precast arm.
The building irm has concluded a consultation to shut the bulk of its precast concrete and precast looring sites making 465 staff redundant (CM 6 January).
Tarmac Building Products says the following hauliers are affected: Ashbourne-based DJ Balls, carrying out work at Derby; Grifin Freight Services, working at Lound, Nottinghamshire; K&W Brick, carrying out work at Henlade, Somerset; and Prestons of Potto, working from Tallington, Linconshire.
A Tarmac spokeswoman says: “Because none of the drivers are directly employed by Tarmac [they are all contracted hauliers], it is dificult to estimate the effect this will have on each haulier.
“Very few worked solely for Tarmac Building Products, so we hope they will be able to absorb work from other clients.” Richard Burton, transport manager at Retford-based Grifin Freight Services, says the precast work accounted for almost 50% of the irm’s turnover.
“We had worked on the precast contract for about 15 years, but over the past two years the volumes have been unstable. One day we might have moved 20 loads, the next day four.
“Fortunately, we are still moving building bricks for Tarmac and we have managed to pick up timber contracts, which means we have not had to make any redundancies or reduce the leet,” says Burton.
Meanwhile, D Lloyd, operating from Dolyhir, Powys, for Tarmac Building Products, and also involved in the consultation, was offered a lifeline, with the irm conirming its Dolyhir Fast Floor operation will remain open.
K&W Brick Haulage was unavailable for comment as CM went to press, while DJ Balls declined to comment. Prestons of Potto is still working at Tallington as no closure date has been given yet.