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A TRAILBAZING scheme aimed at putting the brakes on heavy lorries illegally rumbling through the picturesque villages of Papplewick and Linby has made a big impact.

The first Nottinghamshire ‘Lorry Watch’, which was launched in the villages two years ago, has resulted in a 40% reduction in the number of heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) using weight-restricted roads.

Most of the roads in Papplewick and Linby have a seven-and-a-half-tonne maximum limit.

The idea behind ’Lorry Watch’ is that residents volunteer to be part of the scheme and make a note of any vehicles that flout the law.

Details are then passed on to trading standards officers at Notts County Council who send out warning letters.

Continued infringements can result in fines of up to £1,000.

Coun Mick Murphy (Con), of Hucknall, who is the county council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said:

“Community ‘Lorry Watch’ schemes adopt a partnership approach between the county council, parish councils and local residents, who act as our eyes and ears on the street.

“The weight restrictions on the county’s roads are in place for very good reasons.

“Many of the roads are narrow and totally unsuitable for vehicles of that size. Big lorries squeezing along narrow roads can be very intimidating — not to mention dangerous — for pedestrians and other motorists.”

The initiative in Papplewick and Linby is now being used as a blueprint for similar schemes in other villages throughout Nottinghamshire.

The ‘Lorry Watches’ are also backed by the Vehicle Operating Services Agency (VOSA).

Source: Dispatch

WORK to repair a bridge over the M5 near Quinton which was damaged when a lorry crashed into it killing the driver is set to start next week.

The Highways Agency will carry out repairs to fire damage to the Carters Lane bridge at junction three for two weeks from next Monday (May 21).

A Volvo HGV driven by Peter Morrison from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, hit the bridge and burst into flames last July.

The repair work, which includes replacing several concrete facia blocks, will be carried out over night between 8pm and 6am.

Lanes one and two of the northbound M5 carriageway will be closed between junctions four and two.

There will also be a total closure of the M5 northbound exit slip road at junction three while restrictions are in place.

Northbound traffic needing to exit at junction three will be diverted to junction two, from where it will return back down the M5 and take the southbound exit slip road at junction three.

Highways Agency project manager, Jessica Kenny, said: “While all work is taking place outside of peak hours, we would still advise road users to be aware of the traffic management restrictions and to plan their journeys accordingly.”

At an inquest into Mr Morrison’s death Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said there was no evidence to explain what happened, but it was likely that he either fell asleep or suffered a medical emergency while driving.

A tracking device showed he had been travelling at around 53mph prior to the crash.

Road users can keep up to date with delays across the network on the Highways Agency website, or by calling the Highways Agency information line on 0300 123 5000.

People with smart phones can check traffic conditions before they leave or when parked using the Highways Agency travel news app or can follow @HAtraffic_wmids on Twitter.

Source: Halesowen News

A truck carrying more than 2,000 pints of beer caused chaos when it shed its load all over a busy roundabout.

The lorry - delivering booze to bars in Wadowice, Poland - left the road awash with lager after it tried to take the tight bend too quickly, say police.

And firefighters and police had to keep other motorists at bay as they tried to dodge traffic to scoop up some of the unbroken bottles.

"We had to close the road in the end.

"It was shut for four or five hours while we swept up the broken glass and hosed away the beer," said a fire service spokesman.

Source: Orange News

Potter Group Logistics has acquired York-based logistics and pallet network operator House of James Transport.

The purchase grows Ripon-headquartered Potter Group Logistics’ turnover from £15m to around £22m, said its managing director Matthew Lamb.

He added: “One of the nice things about this particular acquisition is the marriage of two Yorkshire family businesses.”

Founded by Derrick Potter in 1965, Potter Group Logistics employs more than 200 staff. House of James operates from two locations in York employing 70 staff, who will all be taken on by Potter Group Logistics, bringing its total head count to closer to 300.

Potter Group Logistics, based on the Melmerby Industrial Estate, provides specialist logistics solutions focusing on the chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical and food industries. The firm, which also has a property arm, operates five distribution centres located in Droitwich, Ely, Knowsley, Ripon and Selby.

Mr Lamb, who has been managing director at the company for the past seven years, said it marked the first acquisition by the group since he has been in the role.

He said: “We had a long hard look at our service portfolio and we felt there were a couple of gaps in it and one of them – which is why House of James was so attractive to us – is they are a member of the Palletline pallet network.

“So you’re not sending lots of lorries all over the country in an inefficient manner, you send one lorry or two per night to a hub in the Midlands. All the pallets are unloaded there and are transferred to lorries going to different regions for them to be dealt with by the local delivery company. House of James is the local delivery company for the York postcode for the Palletline network.”

Ahead of the acquisition, House of James had become a supplier to the group, which started using it as a pallet network provider.

The acquisition, which was made for an undisclosed sum, adds 100,000 sq ft of warehousing, 35 vehicles and 55 trailers, doubling the size of the group’s fleet. Simon Gill, who was managing director of House of James, will remain with the combined businesses as commercial director.

Mr Lamb said: “This deal strengthens our service offering in Yorkshire with the addition of a premium pallet network service. The House of James is a good fit with our existing business and we are looking forward to growing the combined businesses.

“The acquisition will enable us to offer our existing customer base improved services and will allow us to create new opportunities for Potter Group Logistics enhancing our position in the value added logistics market.”

Source: Yorkshire Post

A LORRY driver who crashed into a wall and plunged eight feet onto the road below was more than four times the drink drive limit.

Patrick Dennedy had 154 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — the legal limit being 35 — after the crash in Cwmavon Road at 4.40pm on Wednesday, May 2.

The 47-year-old from Heol Y Coed in Glyncorrwg, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without due care and attention, failing to provide a breath specimen at the police station, and to possessing Class B drug amphetamine.

Prosecuting, Helen Edwards said Dennedy had crashed "through a barrier and dropped eight feet to a road that was below".

Police at the scene took a sample of his breath, and Dennedy was arrested and taken to Neath Police Station.

But at the station he failed to provide a second required sample of breath.

Mrs Edwards said Dennedy admitted to drinking 10 to 12 cans of lager the night before and the next day drank another three cans.

She added that, concerning the drug offence, he said someone had given it to him a couple of months ago and he had forgotten it was in his wallet.

Steven Harrett, defending, said the father-of-two had faced up to what had happened.

"His recollection was that he had difficulty with his brakes but accepts driving without due care and attention," he said.

The court heard that investigations discovered no fault with the vehicle.

Mr Harrett added that Dennedy realised he had a drinking problem.

"He went to see his GP and has been given medication and has not drunk since the incident," he said.

Presiding magistrate Claire Shaw imposed a 17-week custodial sentence which will be suspended for 12 months.

He was fined costs of £85 and was disqualified from driving for the next three years.

A community order of 200 hours of unpaid work was also imposed by magistrates, that will include an alcohol activity requirement.

Source:This is South Wales

Anthony Scott, aged 49, pleaded guilty to stealing £100 worth of diesel from a Butcombe Brewery lorry in Wrington on November 11.

North Somerset Courthouse heard this week how Scott was captured on CCTV at about 3am siphoning fuel from the lorry with a friend.

The offence was committed just days before Scott was handed a six-month prison sentence for theft.

The court heard how Scott had planned to sell the fuel, 10 gallons of diesel worth £70, to fund his heroin addiction.

The diesel was recovered, but had to be thrown away because it was not known whether it had been contaminated.

A fuel cap worth £30 was never recovered.

Scott, of Stapleton Road, Bristol, was released in February after serving his sentence and has been taking 20 millilitres of prescription methadone to treat his drug addiction since his release, the court heard.

Defending, Susan Cameron said: “He is addicted to drugs and he admits that.

“This offence predates similar offences he has served time in prison for and it seems to me that if the matter had been put before the court on November 14, he would have received a concurrent sentence and would not have served any longer.”

Magistrates were going to hand Scott a fine and victim surcharge totalling £88, but instead ruled he must spend a day in the cells after Scott said he could not pay the sum.

Source: Mercury