New threat to hauliers
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STRATHCLYDE Regional Council may take blockade-running hauliers to court for damage caused to country roads.
Bill McAlonan, the region's director of roads, confirmed that lawyers acting for the council were studying the position.
The region is concerned because the volume of heavy goods vehicles carrying coal and iron ore from Hunterston on the Ayrshire coast to British Steel's Ravenscraig plant in Lanarkshire appear to be damaging the roads. And, with cash already tight, they are worried about high repair bills.
The idea of seeking compensation from the fleet owners operating the coal and iron ore runs came after a 100-year-old culvert on the East Kilbride to Eaglesham road — one of the routes favoured by the coal lorries — collapsed.
It is estimated that repair work will cost about £6,000 which, when compared with their roads budget, is not a huge sum. But it could have far reaching effects for road damage in other areas. The 1959 Highways Act empowers local authorities to claim compensation from lorry owners whose vehicles cause excessive road damage.