Recovery Members Update September 2010
Welcome to RHA Recovery Member Update!
Because of technical restraints we have had to produce our email earlier than planned, so you will be receiving this a week early. As I have been on leave in that period and our monthly committee meeting had to be postponed, it has been a relatively quiet period, but it is still important to connect with our membership, so here goes.
Survive Executive Meeting
I reported on the Survive Executive Meeting in our last issue, but immediately after that meeting we heard that AVRO had a planned meeting with VOSA over the recent consultation regarding MOT Exemptions for HGV’s. You will remember that there was provision in this consultation to bring in testing on recovery vehicles, or as the consultation described them ‘breakdown vehicles.’
Our committee took this consultation very seriously and formed a sub-committee that met with Ray Engley, Head of Technical Services at RHA, who is based at Weybridge. Ray confirms that the Department of Transport who put out the original consultation, have still not released any information on the outcome of the consultation. Operators have expressed concerns over the testing of some of the larger recovery trucks and the issue of whether they are tested fully loaded or not and the logistics of that comes into the equation. At present the recovery trucks that fall outside of the MOT testing have had certificates of roadworthiness issued. Clearly VOSA do not have the facilities to test the heavier trucks and this is causing some concerns. To ensure our concerns are dealt with (and they were expressed in our reply to the consultation) we are seeking further clarification on the issue.
European Tow Show
I was hoping to have more information on next year’s Tow Show in this newsletter, but any decisions have been delayed because the committee has not met yet. Next year’s show will definitely go ahead, but the committee (who will have a part to play in the planning) want to examine data and possible new ideas on the way forward for the European Tow Show.
We will soon be in a position to announce the plans for next year’s show. If members have any strong feelings about last year’s show or ideas for next year’s show, please contact me, my details are below.
European Rescue & Recovery Initiative (ERRI)
No further news to report from ERRI. As we reported in our last newsletter, AVRO have re-applied for membership and have been accepted back and are now, I am very pleased to report, actively part of the main committee. Their president and a member of their National Council attended the last meeting of the group.
Member’s Briefings
Members Regional Briefings will certainly be going ahead this year, we are at present looking at the format and venues. We feel it is important for us to initiate a process where we go out to the regions and offer our members a chance to meet committee members and give them the opportunity to express their views. Our monthly newsletter keeps members informed but it is hoped to offer this extra facility a couple of times a year in each region in order to achieve better and more constructive dialogue with our membership.
New Members
I am pleased to report that we have signed up a further two members this month. We have many more enquiries in the pipeline. I feel this is an endorsement of the way we have, as a committee, looked for every opportunity to be proactive and open with our transactions.
Freight Transport APPG
The next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Freight Transport will take place in October. I am on the committee as is Jack Semple of the RHA and Derek Firminger of ERRI. We still do not have a definite date for this meeting, but Rob Flello, MP, the chairman of the group has confirmed that after the change of government and the confusion that brings, he is now in a position to move forward with this group.
Heavy Rescue Partnership
This very worthwhile initiative, started in Staffordshire as a trial between Staffordshire operators and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, has now been ratified as an official charity with the Red Cross now also on board. Operators in Staffordshire have been asked by their Fire Service to attend major traffic accidents and use their specialist lifting equipment to save lives. This means that our specialist equipment will save lives and not just be used to clear the motorway. The trial period of 18 months is reported to have saved 12 lives and I am pleased to report that I have been asked to be a trustee of the charity. I have, of course, accepted and it is planned to have a major launch in November which will be highly publicised.
The plan is to ensure that the fifty or so other Fire Services across the country employ the same system. One of our committee members, Robin Doney from Boarhunt, was involved in the first trials of this system in Hampshire prior to it being adopted in Staffordshire.
2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
It has been a little quiet on this front for the last couple of months. Members will be aware that RHA Recovery in conjunction with our colleagues at LARO, have had meetings with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and more recently Transport for London (at the request of the ODA). Both meetings proved very positive and I am pleased to report that the ODA are providing us with dates for another meeting.
The government expressed concerns recently about congestion in the capital during the six week period of the Olympics and Paralympics. The Olympic Route is planned through London to the various venues and involves the outside lane, leaving the bus lanes open to normal traffic. Clearly this will create challenges and RHA Recovery and LARO have produced detailed plans and maps to highlight what we see as ‘hot spots’ and offer ways of minimising disruption. It is the job of the transport section of the ODA to ensure the smooth running of transport and logistics during the Games and they are happy for us and LARO to advise on these issues.
Contact me
I am sorry this month’s newsletter has been a brief one, but I felt it important not to miss the opportunity to speak to you.
We are still very much looking for new members. The benefits of RHA Recovery membership are stronger than most other trade associations because we have the benefit of being part of the massive Road Haulage Association infrastructure. We also have the RHA Rescue benefit where members will be invited to join that organisation which will open up other work opportunities. Over 100,000 HGV’s are part of RHA Rescue and our members have exclusive opportunities to tap into that work source.
If you are interested in joining RHA Recovery or would like information on what we can offer, please contact us at our Peterborough office. Janice Wadsworth will deal with your enquiry, she can be contacted on 01733 261131. Alternately you can call me direct, my mobile number is 07976 829927.