Single rollers reprieved

by Colin Sowman

Representatives of manufacturers, the hire industry and contractors were all present at the Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) committee meeting called last week to discuss the use of single drum rollers in the reinstatement of highways (CJ 17 July).

The meeting follows the omission of this type of roller from the new HAUC specifications. While the meeting's decision has not been disclosed pending official clearance by the government, a spokesman said they "hoped for a positive outcome in which we will have addressed the situation."

As changes to the specification laid down in the legislation are being sought, the indications are that single drum rollers will continue to be allowed in road repairs.

This will be a relief to manufacturers like Mortimer which only make this type of equipment, as well as contractors and hire companies alike which have invested considerable sums on single drum rollers before the new specification was introduced. There are an estimated 10,000 single drum rollers in the UK.

Ahead of the official announcement, the message to the highways authorities is that they should use discretion about requests to use single drum rollers. To date, this call appears to have been heeded.