Roller users beg stay of execution

by Colin Sowman

Single drum rollers are likely to be given a stay of execution after being outlawed from use in road reinstatement by the new Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) regulations which came into effect on 1 July.

Following a meeting of the HAUC committee, highways authorities are being urged to "exercise some latitude" ahead of further meetings to resolve the situation.

Under the new regulation, the most common rollers in the 600kg/m to 1,000kg/m range (of which there are believed to be 10,000 in the UK) cannot be used in the reinstatement of roads, although vibrating plates are permitted. A further HAUC committee meeting has been planned for the 24 July with manufacturers' representatives to discuss the situation.

Manufacturers of these rollers, like Benford, Mortimer and Bomag, have complained that they were not contacted during the consultation period and argue that rollers provide better compaction than vibrating plates. At the meeting the manufacturers' representatives will argue for the legislation to be changed rather than adopting a run-out period to see existing equipment through its working life.

There is general agreement that a problem exists with some reinstatement, but the machinery manufacturers believe much of this may be down to training of the workforce rather than an inherent fault with rollers. The use of twin drum rollers is still allowed but there are relatively few in the UK and, because of their weight, they are more difficult to transport, possibly requiring the use of LGVs.

The regulations are a legal document and may take some time to amend or change if that is deemed necessary, but in the meantime manufacturers and users hope that the highways authorities will be sympathetic about requests to use single drum rollers.