News of Municipal Activities
Page 41
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Weighbridges : Omissions from New Act.
Comments on omissions from the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act which deal with the weighing of vehicles and their loads were made at a meeting of the Yorkshire District of the Incorporated Society. of Inspectors of Weights and Measures.
Mr. A. Ross, chief inspector of weights and measures to West Riding County Council. said that not a word was said in the Act concerning the weighing machines to be used under its provisions, coming within the purview of the Weights and Measures Act, nor was any mention made of these machines being p tamped when new, or being subject to testing.
The detection of cases of overloading would depend on the accuracy of the weighing machine used and the person performing the operation. Therefore, there should have been some provision in the Ace for examination by the officer ordinarily dealing with the inspection of instruments used for trade purposes.
Manchester's Apprehension Concerning Weak Bridges.
"' Assuming the bridge authorities carry out the existing proposals, then all vehicles above a laden weight of 12 tons or axle weight of 8 tons would be unable to travel between Manchester and the following places :—Ashtonunder-Lyne, 1Vlossley, Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood, Bury, Bolton, Preston, Eccles and Warrington."
This is an extract from a report by the town clerk of Manchester to the April meeting of the city council.
"One example," he states, " will suffice to indicate the seriousness of the position if such a retrictiort were effected. The Bleachers Association owns approximately 50 mills situated all over south-east Lancashire. It owns a fleet of vehicles above the prescribed weight and, as a result of the proposed restriction, its vehicles could enter and leave Manchester only via Denton, Stockport and Stretford. The dislocation of the organisation of this concern is, therefore, obvious."
The Parliamentary committee of the council has passed a resolution express% ing the opinion that Section 30 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, should not be put into operation until time has been allowed to reconstruct or strengthen weak bridges. • Middlesex C.C. and M.O.T. Join in Road Experiments.
Middlesex County Council is cooperating with the Ministry of Transport in connection with experimental road works, and the southern carriageway of the North Circular Road, between Edgware Road and the Watford By-pass, is being used for surfacing experiments. The Ministry has decided to divide the section of the North Circular Road into four lengths with different surfaces.
In view of the experimental nature of the work, the road contractors, who are members of the-Asphalt Ma,nufacturers Association, referred the matter to the Association, as a result of which it was decided that only one concern should tender for the work on each section, but on a strictly commercial basis. The invitation of tenders, however, was not restricted to members of the Association.
Should Road Fund Bear Lighting Costs ?
Recently, Southwark Borough Council made representations to the Minister of Transport urging him to take into consideration the expenditure on public lighting of main roads when making grants from the Road, Fund. The Minister is, however, not • in a position to make grants from the Fund for this purpose.
The highways cOmmittee is of opinion that there is justification for urging the Minister to reconsider the matter and recommends that the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee be invited to consider the subject.
Leeds Haulage Contracts.
The highways committee of Leeds Corporation has accepted the following tenders for mechanical haulage, for 12 months :—S-ton and 64on lorries, Mr. H. England, Messrs. T. Mullarkey and Son, Mr. E. Borrowdale, Messrs. C. Carroll and Sons, and South Leeds Haulage Co., Ltd., at schedule prices; 2-ton lorries, Mr. G. Ward and Mr. A. H. Butterwick, at 3s. 6d. per hour.