Hauliers hit out over A41 closure
Recession-hit haulage firms today claimed they have been hit by a double whammy because of the closure of a main road in Shropshire. Recession-hit haulage firms today claimed they have been hit by a double whammy because of the closure of a main road in Shropshire. Firms based close to the A41, which is closed for three weeks for resurfacing work near Newport, say they are being clobbered financially because their fleets are using extra fuel and covering more mileage to get past the road closure. It comes as fuel costs continue to rise nationwide with pump prices hovering at about the £5 per gallon mark. Kevin Plews, managing director of Plews Brothers Limited at Rosehill, near Market Drayton, estimated the extra daily fuel cost for his fleet of seven HGVs was between £50 and £100. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Firms based close to the A41, which is closed for three weeks for resurfacing work near Newport, say they are being clobbered financially because their fleets are using extra fuel and covering more mileage to get past the road closure.
It comes as fuel costs continue to rise nationwide with pump prices hovering at about the £5 per gallon mark.
Kevin Plews, managing director of Plews Brothers Limited at Rosehill, near Market Drayton, estimated the extra daily fuel cost for his fleet of seven HGVs was between £50 and £100.
He said: "It's frustrating and we are having to go for miles in the wrong direction just to get back to Tern Hill.
"It's causing a problem for us and we are using extra fuel which costs the business money."
Mr Plews, who is also vice chairman of the Shropshire branch of the Road Hauliers' Association, added: "We are having to do 10 to 15 miles extra on most journeys which is a big inconvenience in these times of rising fuel costs."
Edwards Transport, based at Hinstock, has also branded the closure by Telford & Wrekin Council as "inconvenient".
A spokeswoman for the firm, which has about 40 HGVs in its fleet, said: "It's causing disruption and is an inconvenience for the business.
"It's the fact that the road is closed for so long which is making it tough.
"But on the other hand, we understand the road needs repairing as we don't want our fleet getting tyre problems because of a poor road surface."
Councillor Stephen Bentley from Telford and Wrekin Council said: "Under government traffic management guidelines, we have to use equivalent roads to those which are closed - in this case A roads. Because of the nature of the local road network, the most appropriate alternatives in this instance is not immediately adjacent to the A41."
The planned work on the A41 was originally scrapped after protests from drivers facing the prospect of 30-mile diversions.
Residents also hit out after some were told they would face restrictions.
The road is closed for two more weeks.
By Tom Johannsen
