Hazard loads overnight risk
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THE NEED for a formal lorry park to end the haphazard parking of vehicles laden with chemicals and products was emphasised at a meeting of Warrington Road and Home Safety Advisory Committee.
"Any piece of spare ground quickly becomes an overnight lorry park. Many tankers carry hazardous chemicals and signs such as 'Hazard chemicals keep clear' and 'Inflammable, do not smoke' are often fixed to the units," declared the chairman, Councillor Jim Kilduff. "There have been chemical disasters and it is possible there could be one here," he said. "Inquisitive fingers could easily loosen the tap at the end of the vehicle. The drivers leave these vehicles unattended and often they are on land near property.
"These men are familiar with the chemicals and may not see them as dangerous. There should be special parking areas for these vehicles, well away from residential areas."
Don Snow, district road safety officer, said he had been urging Cheshire County Council to provide isolated parking areas. A site was being considered in Halton and the county was working with transport firms in the area.
J. Rimmer of the Borough Surveyor's Department, said the Planning Department was trying to stop drivers using spare ground.
"If parking is with the owners' consent, then owners have to apply for planning permission," he said. "If the owner does not know about the use, we are trying to persuade him to fence off the land or put up 'no parking' notices."
The committee decided to support Halton Borough Council in its fight for a lorry park.