News

An international heavy haulier has beat off opposition from local residents to increase its licence by one vehicle and four trailers. However West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Lester Maddrell has imposed licence conditions limiting the times of vehicle movement on the Stoke-on-Trent based company, Potteries Heavy Haulage.  The company had successfully sought to increase its licence from three vehicles and six trailers to four vehicles and 10 trailers.

The DTC was told that  the company operated heavy haulage between the UK and the Continent. The vehicles and trailers spent long periods away from the operating centre and if the additional vehicles were granted it would increase the movements into and out of the site from four to around five per week. Potteries Demolition Co, SITA UK and Moores Metals, with licences for a total of 14 vehicles and 10 trailers, were also based at the site.

The residents complained about noise, dirt, sludge, smells, vibration and dust. They said the situation was getting worse because the surface of the road was breaking up. The DTC had no doubt that the the site caused problems for the residents to an extent well beyond what was to be expected in a city area but the contribution by the vehicles operated under the Potteries Heavy Haulage licence was minimal.

He considered that the solution was for wheel washing facilities to be installed and their use made compulsory for all vehicles using the site as an operating  centre. However, were he to impose such a condition on this licence it would impose the burden on installing it on the company and he could not at this stage require its use by anyone else. The DTC directed that his decision be regarded as a complaint and that the suitability of the site as an operating centre on the other licences be considered at the five yearly review stage.