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ISLE OF MAN AIRPORT RESPONDS TO PROTEST FROM HAULIERS

By IsleOfManAdmin on Monday, October 19, 2009
Filed Under: Construction, Isle of Man

Isle News, 19 October 2009 – The Department is aware that local hauliers staged a protest in Douglas relating to the use of off-Island contractors in connection with aspects of the Runway Project at Isle of Man Airport.

The Department has been approached by the Island Road Haulage Association and has accepted a meeting with its representatives. Minister for Transport David Anderson said: ‘I am pleased at the Association’s request and look forward to a positive outcome from the meeting.’

In April 2008 the contract for the Runway Project was awarded to Balfour Beatty. Work in 2008 focused on the existing airfield with the strengthening, regrading and resurfacing of the main runway and some associated taxiways. This year the work has concentrated on the construction of a promontory and the final stages are the paving of the new starterstrip and the tie-in to the parallel taxiway.

This last phase of works, the paving of the runway end safety area and the parallel taxiway, has resulted in the contractor asking the Department for a road closure, on health and safety grounds, of the small section of road between the Turkeyland Gate at the Airport and the access to Kniveton’s Yard. This piece of road forms part of an integral part of the overall construction site and traffic management system. The system for placing the road closure followed due process by the Department’s Highways Division.

For this project, and for all of the Department’s projects, the contractor and its main sub-contractor have had to go through a competitive and rigorous process to establish competence, quality and value for money.

The Contractor has informed the Department that every piece of stone that has been brought to site and utilized in the pavement on this project has been moved by local hauliers. In addition, local hauliers have been – and continue to be – used within the contract for this project.

Minister for Transport David Anderson said: ‘The Department makes it absolutely clear to all of its contractors that they are to maximise the use of local resources as a priority, which we believe they do.

‘However, we also have to accept that such a requirement must also be reflective of the need for the contractor to ensure that the services they are obtaining – in this case trucks – are fit for purpose, safe, competent and provide value for money. We also have to accept that it would be wholly inappropriate for the Department to interfere in that process, other than to be satisfied that it has been carried out in a proper and professional manner.’

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