HC Deb 02 August 1939 vol 350 cc2367-8
66 and 67. Mr. Neil Maclean

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he is aware that serious damage has been done twice to roads in the Gretna area by the load of 95 tons conveyed by tractor trailers; and whether he will state if the cost of repairing the damage to roads and bridges will have to be borne by the local authorities, or whether the firm responsible will be made liable to pay for the repairs necessary;

(2) whether his attention has been called to the carriage by tractor and trailer of a 95-ton ingot mould from Sheffield to Scotland; that this tractor and trailer caused a subsidence at Gretna where it took eight days to have it raised; that it has now had a second subsidence and has gone through the road to the axles of the vehicle; that the road will have to be closed to other traffic for a week; and what action he proposes to take to prevent these heavy loads being taken by road?

Captain Wallace

I have received details of the accident which occurred on 20th July, when a trailer carrying a heavy casting sank into the Carlisle-Glasgow trunk road about seven miles north of Carlisle. The vehicle was extricated on 27th July. The cost of repair is not yet known, but the hauliers have been informed of the damage and that a claim will be made under the indemnity which was given by them before the load was taken over the trunk road. I understand that the vehicle left the trunk road at Annan and proceeded along a second-class road towards Lockerbie. The vehicle sank into this road also, and I assume that the highway authority concerned will take similar action to recover the cost of the damage so caused. Abnormal loads may be carried only by vehicles of special type and subject to conditions laid down in the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order (No. 1), 1937. It is necessary on occasion to take by road heavy indivisible loads and, as far as I am aware, the provisions of the Order work satisfactorily on the whole.

Mr. Maclean

Is it not time that these heavy loads were stopped from using roads which are not strong enough to bear them, and should not the Minister of Transport revise the conditions under which he gives permission to these firms to carry these loads?

Captain Wallace

I do not altogether take that view. It is in the public interest that some of these loads should be conveyed from place to place. There are certain kinds of loads which cannot be carried on the railways for various reasons, and if, as in this case, we make sure that if a load damages the public highway, the people who take the load have to pay the damage, it seems to me that we are serving the public interest best by leaving the law as it is.

Mr. Maclean

Is it not the case that the bridges over which these loads are being carried are not sufficient to withstand the loads that are being carried over them and that many of the railways will be damaged as well as the roads?

Captain Wallace

No load of this kind would be allowed to go over any bridge unless my Department was satisfied that the bridge was able to carry it.

Sir H. Williams

Would there be as much complaint if this ingot had been made in Scotland and was being brought to Sheffield?

Mr. Maclean

Just the same complaint. I have already made complaint in Scotland.