Worcs hauliers win unrestricted licence renewal
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P C and K W L Rimell of Kempsey
MWorcestershire hauliers P C and K W L Rirnell have succeeded in obtaining the unrestricted renewal of their licence despite objections from local residents.
The partners, based at Sheepfields Farm, Bestmans Lane, Kempsey, had applied to renew their national licence in respect of seven vehicles and 14 trailers, six vehicles and 10 trailers being based at Sheepfielcls Farm, The application was opposed by Malvern Hills • District Council and residents.
Malvern Council withdrew its objection after the Rimells gave an undertaking that all their vehicles would be housed within the operating centre and would not overflow on to a nearby common or public house car park.
For the Rirnells, Michael Carless argued that there was no material change as the previous licence had authorised nine vehicles and eight trailers from the farm.
For the residents, it was argued that an increase in the number of trailers to 10 was a material change. The main objection was that access was along a very narrow country lane.
West Midland LA John Mervyn Pugh commented that did not concern him. It was a matter for the highway authority. Many of the matters raised by the residents in their letters of representation were matters for the local council.
Evidence was given by the residents that over the past five years traffic had increased greatly over the road concerned. The only lorries using it were ones going to the operating centre or the public house. It was not safe to allow a child to walk along the lane to the common and it was impossible to ride a horse along the lane with the lorries behind.
The lorries were cutting up the verges and damaging the lane, they said People living along the lane often had to reverse their cars to allow lorries to pass.
Granting renewal without imposing any conditions, the LA said he had no control over traffic along the lane. There had indeed been a material change in regard to trailers, but when there was also a reduction in vehicles it was a balancing act and overall the material change became very slight. In such circumstances his powers were very limited.