Mersey tunnel tipper
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clash looming By C. HYAMS ESTABLISHED haulage operators in the Liverpool area say that a night rate of 4s a cu. yd. and a day rate of 3s 9d for eight-mile
• tipper work is too low. C. H. and Harvey and Son Ltd., of Liverpool, which has successfully tendered to supply haulage for the construction of the new Mersey Tunnel, is offering these rates.
The question is likely to be debated soon in the traffic court when 11 operators granted short-term B licences by the North Western LA apply for their substantive licences.
Mr. E. A. Hooks, Harvey managing director, told me that they had unsuccessfully asked existing hauliers for vehicles. "They are not prepared to do night work", he said, "and that represents 80 per cent of the work". Harvey had therefore approached the owners of the vehicles who previously worked for them under their C hiring margin to see if they would like to apply for B licences.
The operators will be applying for tippers to carry excavated material from site to tip within eight miles of Liverpool. The work involving the building of the approach road as well as the tunnel excavation, is expected to run for 11 to two years. Twenty to 25 vehicles will be required during the day and 15 to 18 at night, seven days a week.
Work started about six weeks ago and the night rate has been raised from 3s 9d to 4s.
Gruelling I asked Mr. Walter Ashcroft, secretary of North Western Tippers Ltd., whether it was interested in the contract. He said the night work was particularly gruelling-12 or 13 trips a night carrying rubbish through the tunnel to Wallasey. They were having a directors' meeting on Monday to discuss the whole question.
Drivers had to be paid more and the vehicles serviced every day. He thought even owner-operators would find the rate low.
Secretary of the RHA North Western (Western) area, Mr. T. S. Jacks, thought about 40 vehicles would be licensed. Since Harvey had said existing operators had no vehicles available, owner-drivers were applying for the licences.
I understand that RHA members in the area already know about these applications and plan to notify vehicle availability.