WS Hunts variation rejected
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• South Eastern & Metropolitan Deputy LA John Stevenson has rejected a bid by WS Hunts Transport to vary the number of vehicles at its operating centre, and to add two further operating centres (CM 12-18 Oct).
The company had sought to reduce the number of vehicles authorised at 71 Brox Road, Ottershaw, Chertsey from 30 vehicles and 18 trailers to 23 vehicles and nine trailers. It had also applied to base six vehicles on land at the rear of 82 Brox Road, and one vehicle with one trailer at Woodbridge Park, Guildford.
The Brox Road proposals were opposed by Surrey County Council, Runnymede Borough Council and neighbouring residents_ So far as 82 Brox Road was concerned, the DLA said that although he was satisfied that the use of that site by six vehicles would create some additional nuisance from noise, dust and fumes, and that there would be some additional visual intrusion, he was not satisfied that it was unsuitable on environmental grounds. However, the core issue was whether it was suitable for use as an operating centre.
Despite the long history of the site—it has been used by Hunts for over 80 years, currently as a garage, workshop and stores for vehicle maintenance—he still found it unacceptable. The access road was too narrow for trucks to enter and leave the site at the same time, so vehicles trying to enter the site could be forced to wait on the carriageway of a busy road in a mainly residential area. The DLA therefore found that the land at the rear of 82 Brox Road was not suitable for the purpose. Having made that decision, he had to refuse the whole application as he had no power to consider parts of it separately.
Commenting that the company's licence is due for renewal at the end of the year, Stevenson said that on the evidence he had heard, the approval of a licence for more than 19 rigids at 71 Brox Road would not be a foregone conclusion_
LI In CM dated 12-18 October it was reported that WS Hunts Transport was taking a libel action against local resident Julie Arnison. What in fact was said was that no further action would be taken. CM regrets the misunderstanding.