A van carrying frozen foods was so overloaded that the excess goods it contained, filled two other vehicles. Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that the Mercedes Sprinter van was stopped while travelling on the A19 from Middlesbrough to Sunderland in January, as part of routine checks by Durham County Council and Durham Constabulary. The van was found to be carrying a load of 6,120kg despite only being permitted to carry 3,500kg. The driver, John William Ashton, told a trading standards officer that he was working on behalf of Ichina Wholesale Limited. He said he had worked for the company for more than six years and had nearly 25 years’ experience as a driver. Ashton told the officer that he had been involved in loading the vehicle and was aware of the van’s weight limits but that the vehicle had not been weighed during its journey.
He told the officer that he was glad he had been stopped as he hoped it would make his employer aware of what drivers were being asked to load onto vehicles. He claimed there were constant arguments between drivers and his employer about the loads they were expected to carry. Ashton and Ichina Wholesale Limited pleaded guilty by post to offences under the Road Vehicles Regulations Act 1986. Ashton was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay £254 in costs and a £110 victim surcharge. Ichina Wholesale, of The Old School Yard, Middlesbrough, was fined £2,200 and ordered to pay £254 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge. In a separate case, also heard at Newton Aycliffe a County Durham man and a Wearside company also pleaded guilty by post to charges under the Road Vehicles Regulations Act 1986.
The prosecution follows a similar raft of routine checks in April, when police and trading standards officers stopped a Ford Transit van at the Wellfield weighbridge site just off the A19. The vehicle was found to be more than 30 per cent over its weight limit. Softley, 62, said he was sorry for his actions and stated that he had now watched the video about correct loading. He was fined £440 and ordered to pay £175 in costs and a £44 victim surcharge. Fencehouses Truss Company, of Blackthorn Way, Sedgeletch Industrial Estate, Fencehouses, was fined £880 and ordered to pay £175 costs and a £88 victim surcharge. Joanne Waller, County Council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “Weight restrictions for goods vehicles exist for the safety of all road users. These cases demonstrate why it is so important that companies and their drivers are not only aware of weight restrictions but that they operate within these limits.”
