Majority of hauliers boycott Fermoy bypass

The overwhelming majority of lorry drivers are boycotting the new Fermoy bypass in a dispute over bulk discounts on toll fees, according to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA).

An estimated 17,000 lorries a day were expected to use the €295 million bypass when it opened last October, eight months ahead of schedule.

However, speaking at the IRHA conference at the weekend, Cork branch chairman Michael Collins said 85 per cent of all lorries on the route were now boycotting the bypass.

Mr Collins told The Irish Times bulk discounts were essential for operators who were frequent users of the road, but the bypass operators had refused to meet hauliers to discuss the issue.

He said hauliers did not like to continue bringing lorries through the surrounding towns, particularly Fermoy, "where you can spend an hour and a half on a Friday evening".

Regular contact had been maintained with local residents and they were supportive of the hauliers' position, he said.

Mr Collins said hauliers would be meeting residents again this week to devise a strategy to encourage toll operator Direct Route to engage in talks. But he ruled out blockading the new road.

Jimmy Quinn, president of the IRHA, said the lack of dialogue was deplorable.

The new motorway was developed for the National Roads Authority under a public-private partnership by Direct Route (Fermoy) Ltd, which is responsible for the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility for 30 years.

Motorists pay a charge of €1.60 to use the road, while heavy goods vehicles pay up to €5.30 depending on the weight and size of the vehicle.

According to Mr Quinn, the tolls can add up to several thousand euro a year for frequent users.

He predicted the boycott would be maintained because some hauliers had no choice due to the competitive nature of the business.

"You would think it would make good business sense to lower your prices to do more business," he said.

Residents of Watergrasshill have been particularly critical of the new bypass, claiming the road layout had effectively cut off the Watergrasshill bypass, which opened some 3½ years ago.

Some 80 local residents staged a protest at the opening of the Fermoy bypass to make their point.

The hauliers' conference also heard ongoing driver training is to be compulsory for coach and lorry drivers from next year.

Noel Brett, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, said from September next year professional coach and lorry drivers will have to sign up for 35 hours' training every five years - nominally one day a year - or lose their licences.

The EU directive on compulsory driver training will require all new entrants to sit a more rigorous test, possibly including a City and Guilds examination.

In order to obtain an initial qualification, drivers under 21 will be required to attend a minimum of 280 hours of training and drivers over 21 will attend 140 hours of training.

Existing professional drivers are to be exempt from this initial requirement.

The regulations were welcomed by Mr Quinn, who said the extra cost involved would be seen by the industry as an investment.