Following a recent Public Inquiry at the Office for the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) in Cambridge, Veolia will be making a number of changes to their HGV operations at the Albion Works on Long Leys Road. At the Inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner imposed a total of twelve conditions and undertakings on Veolia’s licence, to reduce noise disturbance from early morning HGV movements.
Public Inquiry Summary
At the inquiry six Long Leys residents, supported by an LLRA funded barrister specialising in road transport, described the impact that Veolia’s early morning movements of HGV’s were having on their well-being. Veolia argued that to maintain their current 24/7 operations, HGV’s needed to leave from 4am in the morning. To maintain their current licence, Veolia offered a number of undertakings to try and reduce early morning noise.
The Traffic Commissioner imposed six conditions and additionally accepted six undertakings suggested by Veolia. These are summarised below and can also be viewed in the decision document.
Conditions & Undertaking Summary
Restricted Activities
Activities permitted only between 0700 to 1800 Monday to Friday, and 0700 to 1200 on a Saturday. Not permitted at any time on Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays.
- Loading or unloading of the operator’s vehicles or trailers
- Reversing – all vehicles must be parked so that they can be driven away and out of the operating centre in forward gear only
- Maintenance to any vehicles or trailers
- Fuelling of any vehicle
Driving Behaviour
- No vehicle shall travel between the Lincoln Operating Centre and the junction with Long Leys Road at a speed greater than 10 mph.
- All vehicles must only accelerate gently and using low revs within the Lincoln Operating Centre.
- All vehicles, when leaving the industrial estate at the junction with Long Leys Road, shall only accelerate away from that junction with Long Leys Road gently and using low revs.
Other Conditions and Undertakings
- All vehicles and trailers cannot, at any time, use for any purpose the Lincoln Operating Centre unless they are fitted at all times with soft or rubber chain sleeves and bungee rope(s) which is to replace all other forms of rope.
- The workshop fire escape door at the Lincoln Operating Centre must remain shut at all times unless that door is being used in an emergency to exit that building.
- CCTV cameras will be fitted and used at all times to record all of the external activities in the Lincoln Operating Centre and that CCTV footage is to be downloaded and retained for at least 30 days. If a complaint is made to the operator by any local resident that the conditions and/or undertakings that attach to the Lincoln Operating Centre have been breached then the CCTV footage is to be reviewed in order to ascertain whether there has been a valid complaint.
- Any employee of the operator that is found to have breached the undertakings and/or conditions that attach to the Lincoln Operating Centre will considered to have committed at least “serious misconduct” and will be disciplined accordingly.
LLRA’s View
After a four-year effort by residents and LLRA, this was a very positive outcome for Long Leys residents and is welcomed by LLRA. Thank you to all those who provided evidence to the inquiry and to our barrister at Smith Bowyer Clarke.
The conditions imposed by the Traffic Commissioner, together with Veolia’s undertakings, should significantly reduce the potential for early morning noise disturbance to residents. LLRA are confident that Veolia will honour the conditions and undertakings. There are now clear rules for Veolia to follow. Were Veolia to repeatedly breach any of them, then this would potentially jeopardise Veolia’s national licence, affecting every Veolia operating centre nationally. This means any documented breach in Long Leys is likely to be taken very seriously by Veolia senior management. LLRA would welcome any genuine approach from Veolia to actively engage and consult with Long Leys Residents Association on existing activities.
The legal costs for this work amounted to £3,600 and were paid for from LLRA’s legal fund reserve, retained for just this purpose from the Stop Veolia campaign.
LLRA is happy to respond to any queries/ questions on this at LLRA@long-leys.org.
What Others Are Saying: