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Scottish operators hit by weight restrictions
Page 17
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OPERATORS ON THE Scottish island of Mull have been hit by stricter weight restrictions on many of their roads. The new restrictions are designed to prevent damage.
Until now 15 of the island's minor single-track roads have had weight restrictions based on laden weight, but this is being changed to gross vehicle weight.
Where large trucks with light loads were previously able to travel on these roads, smaller vehicles will now have to be used for deliveries.
Stewart Turner, head of roads at Argyll and Bute Council, says: "I don't think we have much overloading here, but this simplifies matters. It's partly a response to changing sign regulations nationally. If we find it really doesn't work for us we could apply for special permission to return to laden weight restrictions instead, but I think this is unlikely."
Gordon Harper, boss of Gordon Harper Transport, based in Tobermory on Mull, doesn't expect that the change will cause too much of a problem.
"In the end," he says, "what matters is that they improve the state of the roads generally. We all pay our taxes and the roads should be properly maintained."
The council estimates that upgrading the island's road network would cost £20m.