At next Wednesday’s Council meeting (Wednesday 9 November), Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors Rod Blyth and Howard Sykes MBE will propose a motion calling on the Government to regulate the use of agricultural tractors hauling loads on public highways and for urgent action to curb this practice in Shaw and Crompton and elsewhere in Oldham Borough.
Councillor Blyth, proposing the motion, explained: “For many months, our constituents, and those of my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Crompton, have been complaining about the noise and disturbance caused by large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil along the roads of Shaw and Crompton.”
“These tractors are travelling constantly backwards and forwards from early in the morning until late at night making a racket and putting the fear of God into people.
They should be in fields and not in our streets. They are often seen speeding and being driven recklessly and local Councillors are worried that the lives of local people are being needlessly put at danger.”
Councillor Blyth added: “We have asked the Police for action, but nothing so far seems to be happening. This motion is a call for action and we want it now.”
The motion specifically calls for roadside checks to be carried out by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency to make sure tractor operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.
Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is backing the motion. He explained that the real solution to the problem lies with the Government:
“If these tractors and trailers were Heavy Good Vehicles they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents; but at present agricultural tractors are exempt. Irresponsible operators clearly know of this loophole and are exploiting it. They do not care about the inconvenience and danger caused by their actions. So our motion also calls on the Government to make tractors used for road haulage subject to the same rules that apply to trucks and we are asking our local MPs and the Local Government Association to back us in this.”
Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 1 – The Licensing of Agricultural Tractors used for Road Haulage
This Council notes that:
- Over many months, residents in this borough, particularly residents in Shaw and Crompton, have experienced noise and disturbance from large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil on public highways from early in the morning until late at night
- In addition, these vehicles are at times driven recklessly and at speed, posing at danger to other road users and pedestrians
- If these tractors and trailers were HGV’s they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents
- At present they are exempted from licensing requirements
Council believes that tractors used for the purpose of road haulage should be covered by the same licensing requirements as apply to other goods vehicles.
Council resolves to:
- Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State asking the Government to sponsor a change in the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act to make tractors used for this purpose subject to the same licensing and legislative requirements as apply to other good vehicles.
- Ask the Chief Executive to copy in the Local Government Association and the three Members of Parliament for this borough and request that they also make representations to the Secretary of State on this matter.
Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency asking for any assistance they can provide in carrying out road side checks to make sure operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.
I agree, get these Giant tractors off our roads, if they be a farmer using them as they should be I have no objection but these racing along our roads are doing contract work and cannot be bound by the same regulations and safety measures as a true Haulage contractor. I even saw one of these drivers coming along past Buckstones rd with a youngster on his knee how safe is that?.
GO, HOWARD GO.
Could not agree more. It is even worse than that I understand you do not need a full driving license or be at least 17!
You can only drive upto a certain hp, before your 17 and then only to and from a test centre taking your tractor driving test
Wrong. You need to have taken a tractor test if you are younger than 17. This also puts a restriction on size of tractor and trailer.
If you have a full UK driving licence you can drive larger agricultural machinery but still only up to a certain width until you are 21.
Get your facts right before you start spouting inflamitary comments!
I think you need to double check your dvla hand book, they do need a driving licence to pull a trailer.
No only tractors under a certain width can be driven on the road under the age of 17 but a tractor test has to be passed to do so
Yes stop them, often seen going very fast down Buckstones Rd and pulling a trailer with tens of tons of earth, if they had to stop in an emergency they would not be able to and certainly kill someone, the tyres are huge and if went over someone they would have no chance
They are certainly not built with the use on public roads in mind
Could not agree more.
I see your point here but I drive tractors yes thay are big but thay only do 30-35 mph at most and thay can stop faster than a car auto 4×4 on braking plus you do need a licence ho I forgot the air or hydraulic brakes get to understand how it works before you go of on one better still have a go on one
Tractors and trailers are built now with speed and safety together! I drive tractors for living and work on a farm in Lincolnshire, the braking system varies on speed of tractor most of which use hydraulic which stop very sharply, others which travel at greater speeds use air brakes which the trailer is also plumbed into giving a fantastic response! Some people do. It realise how much effort it take to get harvest of crops for field to farm it requires long hours to meet orders for supermarkets and yes road work is required it cannot be helped to has to get there some how and lorries are not always an option
All tractors and trailer have air brakes like a Lorry and can actually be stopped quicker than most vehicles on the road
“tens of tones of earth” to pull as much weight as you are saying here you would need a larger tractor. most larger tractors are built with air brakes that have been tried and tested to a very high standard. do you really believe manufacturers would allow a machine to be sold if it wasn’t up to the task it has been built for?
These tractors I think were the cause of the sink hole on duchess st shaw, and whilst there was a barrier around the hole the tractors carried on by going around the barriers and up on the footpath,
Ha Sheila are you a road engineer?
People should find out facts before making sweeping comments.
It may be the fact that a river runs benieth it!!!
Whilst I have no connection whatsoever with the drivers of these vehicles I would point out that 99% of them are not capable of ‘speeding’ with regard to the current speed limits on the roads mentioned. Also do we have any record of any accidents involving these vehicles in this area, I certainly haven’t heard of my?
The really sad fact is that most of these people actually are farmers or farmers sons. Due to the greed of the large supermarkets, the inefficient EU CAP and the general public who always want things as cheap as possible dairy farmers in particular in this area are or where being paid less for their milk than it cost to produce. Some have gone out of business whilst others have diversified and now carry out lots of vital and useful groundwork in the area. In the main most of the large tractors and trailers you see will be owned and driven by people who have been part of the local farming community for many generations. They may be large but most of them cannot exceed the speed limits anyway.
Sunday 6 Nov tractor speeding along one way system of Duchess St in the wrong direction.Last week rubble spilled off trailer on to Duchess St at junction with Smallbrook Rd.
I wrote to my Councillor only last week to complain about the noise they make and the risk to the public. They were still going up and down Shaw Road Royton at 12:30 at night and started again at 6.51 in the morning.
The farmers and tractors drivers are just trying to make a living would you rather we all went on the dole and have 10 kids. What is wrong with you people these tractors are safe and are built to pull trailors on the roads or in fields.
Yep, go and try and screw the local farmers trying to earn a living. Get real. Most of the tractors aren’t capable of speeding, especially when laden and the brakes are more than capable of stopping.
People who moan about the farmers should move well away from the countryside; it’s not like our farmers can take the countryside with them! They work hard and often in gruelling conditions late into the night. We should respect and help our farmers.
Also, for a counsellor to make sweeping statements with regards to the characters of our local farmers based upon the gripings of locals who can’t hear their TV over the racket of the hard working man, is shameful and worrying.
Responsible operators have nothing to fear from what is suggested, in fact they should welcome it as it creates a level playing field and allows action against those who are not as responsible.
No it creates more costs on an already struggling industry! Farms now days are dictated too by supermarkets for what price things can be sold! Many smaller farms are disappearing losing the connection between field and food and many people do not see that. Wake up and see the bigger picture! Us farmers work long hours miss the best parts of our lives seeing our families all to put food on the table for the country and barely get paid above the costs for it. Certain people need a wake up call!
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
How does it create a level playing field ? Please tell me how the VOSA, or any other government organisation can tell the difference between 20t of soil I’m using on my field in a damaged entrance ? Or 20t of soil being sold to Joe smith down the road. That would be impressive. You are way out of your depth commenting on things you have no facts about. Seems you have a gripe with the local boys for earning a living.
Let’s get rid of the tractors then that go speeds of 45kph and put a artic wagon and trailer there that does 55mph that’s miles better as I’m pretty sure it’s not the tractors the problem may arise with your going to put the same men in wagon units. I’ll leave that there for you to think about. ??
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
I am sorry Mr howardsykes you don’t understand what harvest is. From what i have read it sounds like you want stop farmers from being farmers. We need too be the roads all hours of day get are crops and moving bales hay and straw and cart grass and maize silage cows don’t feed them self. And yes i work contract we move soil on building site what wrong with moving soil with tractor. This just show out of touch the Lib are with country people, you should spend time on farm and you might learn something instead for telling farmer’s how to drive a tractors.
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
Always farmers who get moaned at why not start with getting everyone off the dole who actually dont need to be on it, and only claim because they cant be bothered to work, farmers are hard working people who want to make a good living for themselves and their families like everyone elce, they work hard into the night and early morning most of the time and all people do is moan, do any of you think about the time they are spending away from their families with these long working hours so they can support them
What utter claptrap !!! ????
Tractor do no more than 33 mph top speed do u not think it’s hard enough for farmers has it is with out people complaining they got to travel from field to field I bet half the people who are complaining not work
This is not about field to field travel.
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
If you would like to supply the good weather so there would be no need to have to rush, and provide a decent price for farm produce then that would be great. Is it going to happen? No.
What an absolutely disgusting attitude towards hard working families. Do you think they really want to be out working all hours of the day and night? I am sure they would much rather be home with their families or in bed! With weather, time and legislation restrictions, there is simply no choice sometimes to work long hours. You have to do what you have to do in order to get the job done!
No doubt when the heavens open they will all disappear, they are simply taking advantage of the good weather, as losses due to bad weather can equate to massive financial loss. I can also assure you that is not down to greed!!
If the legislation that is in place for HGV’s were to be applied to agricultural vehicles then you would seriously have to begin to question where your next loaf of bread or pint of milk was going to come from. As crops would not be cut due do having to be stopped so Joe Bloggs down the road can get his 8 hours in….
How do you think families who live in war zones cope? Are they going to write to their local councillors to complain about the constant gun fire? Please. You don’t know how lucky you are.
Size restrictions are in place for certain licences and employers know this, as going against it would obviously be illegal and invalidate their insurance. They also will be employing competent, confident operators, as you can’t put ‘just anyone’ on machinery such as being described.
Up to date and modern machinery and equipment is built with highway use in mind, large tyres to increase stability, traction and minimise impact on the road and in the field. Lighting, ABS and air braking. I think you would be pleasantly surprised how quickly a fully laden machine and trailer will stop Commercial business insurance, public liability, it’s all in place!! Yes, granted there is a tiny minority that unfortunately spoil it for the responsible majority, but you get that in every industry….
Why it is so hard to understand I frankly do not know, I really don’t. From full grown adults as well, get a hobby, do some charity work, make a difference. Why try and make someone else’s life even harder than it is.
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
God city dwellers are so narrow minded if you put an operating licence on tractors prices of food will go up as o licences ain’t free white diesel is more expensive tax is more expensive, and fo speeding most cant even do 30mph let alone set off a speed camera!!!
Bloody farmers can’t get win with these whingeing townies. The standard tractor can’t exceed twenty mph and you all moan farmers are holding up the traffic and shouldn’t be on the roads. The modern fast tractors are allowed upto forty mph, hardly high speed, and are equipped with hgv standard air brakes, and you moan as if they were boy racers. Have you got nothing better to complain about in your sad little lives.
They go late into the night because they have no choice I’m sure if you asked the drivers they would love to be in sat in front the tv not out working all hours of the day just to put food on the table for the country. They have to travel so far on the road because all you city people decided to start building little city’s in the country side. if you don’t like it move back to the city and stop moaning at hard working people trying to make a living.
In my part of the world these are been used instead of what I would call the traditional HGV solid bodied dumper type vehicles on construction sites to move spoil etc.
There is no intention to impact upon agricultural use of such things, which some people appear to think.
Also it is not directed at the vast majority of drivers/operators who are responsible and would have nothing to fear what so ever and in fact has been welcomed.
If you get an irresponsible operator/driver they are not covered by any controls like any HGV would be and covered in the operator’s license for example.
This is not about stopping anything it is about asking for it to be regulated so a balance can be struck and the irresponsible dealt with.
Hopefully this should help hard working and responsible people.
where do you think your food comes from farmers are having to diversify to make ends meet look at the price of milk you pay £1 odd for a litre of milk at the supermarket but is farmers are only getting 23p per litre it’s cost more than that to produce. Look at pork we export it out the country then buy it back from Germany because we have so much red tape regards animal welfare with what we can and Carnot do and it all adds to the cost of production yet abroad they have non therefore cheaper to produce. Tractors can’t do more than 40kph which equates to around 30mph so to say they are speeding is laughable. Tractor also have air brakes fitted to tractor and trailer the same brakes are fitted to arctic Lorrys and with a full trailer tractors have a train weight less than that of an arctic Lorry. The police and the government know all this information which is why nothing has been done because they can’t do anything as no laws are being broken
Speeding? Seeing as most tractors of the modern age go no faster than 30 mph(or 50kph) I would find that rather impossible. Tractors with that sort of speeds usually have an air braking system for the trailers(what large hgvs use) and a hydraulic system for themselves meaning that they have some of the most efficient braking compared to any other road machine! On top of this, the maximum weight limit for a tractor and trailer is 31 tons meaning that it is no where the amount of weight that lorrys are pulling on a daily basis. And Howard Sykes, to drive any tractor on the road with a trailer, you need to be 17 years old with a full driving licence!
People should stop moaning about us working and start bitching over the world of people who actually don’t work and not the farmers who are making a living and do what you all benifit in life and as for speeding the tractors cant exceed a certain limit also as someone states all tractors and farmers work all hours god sends and it doesn’t harm anybody atall an for hurting people any car and van lorry could hurt someone so why aim at tractors its pathetic and should concentrate on important issues not bit noise of hard working people who don’t harm you also bring you things in life you need anything else is pile rubbish iv read on here it isn’t just feilds tractors needs to be on the roads is to use to get to a,b and people making it sound like we driveing around the street fast and up and down for the fun of it…we all work hard and no one moaning about the yodal trucks upband down all the time its just the same all making a living unless want everyone sat home like many signing on an draining the government well some of us have more standers and bit of noise and people making living an doing alot for these who are moaning without them thinking of that if wernt for farmers were would your milk n meat an lot more come from think you all need to worry about more than this an stop trying to destroy a living of lots and hard working people and get more people to have the work attitude of these farmers then government woulnt be moaning theres no money and people would not be sat on back sides claiming…….more important things to do than moan about HARD WORKING PEOPLE AND THEIR VEHICLES (TRACTORS’) ETC…….