Midlands haulier faces closure if relocation is refused

A Midlands temperature controlled haulier is waiting to hear if it has been granted planning permission to open a haulage yard for 15 HGVs and create 26 jobs.

D&K Chilled Transport told Walsall Council it was in danger of losing its O-licence if the application was not given the green light after relocating operations from Cannock.

It applied to open the depot in Willenhall on the site of a former steel rolling mill and its application explained that “without any parking facilities known as an operating centre, our goods vehicle operator’s licence will be revoked by the traffic commissioner and we will be unable to trade resulting in the business closure and redundancy for all staff".

It said 80% of the company’s fleet would be leaving on a Monday and only returning on a Friday.

The move will result in 24 full-time staff and two part-time jobs.

A noise impact assessment report noted that although there may be “some degree of adverse noise impact” it was not considered to be significant.

However, it could be reduced by the erection of a suitable site boundary fence.

The report added: “The local council should recognise that businesses wanting to develop in predominantly industrial sites and, particularly on sites that were previously used as industrial sites, should not have unreasonable restrictions put on them.

“In addition, in the context of varying ambient noise levels due to various sources of noise in this predominantly industrial area, the council should not object to the use of a lorry park at this location.”

Walsall Council was unable to confirm if it had granted the application as we went to press.