Hauliers working out of Hull Container Terminal are celebrating after the port agreed to drop its proposed £5 per vehicle gate charge. Andrew Lunn, boss of AR Lunn describes the decision as "brilliant" and says it was down to haulage companies sticking together and refusing to pay. PD Ports sent a letter to transport companies saying the charge, due to be introduced on 1 February, was necessary to fund investment in terminal infrastructure.
It says: "This charge was necessary to contribute towards the significant terminal infrastructure investment which PD Ports has progressed in recent months. However, while PD Ports hasbeen proceeding with the arrangements and mechanism for the implementation of the gate charge to hauliers, ithas also focused on various initiatives to seek to mitigate or eliminate the implementation of the charge.
The various stakeholders in the terminal have successfully worked together on this and, consequently, PD Ports is pleased to inform you that the plan to implement a Gate Charge has been shelved."
More than 30 companies had threatened to withhold payment at the port Lunn adds: "Our solidarity has won the day because we stuck together and vowed we wouldn't pay. It's a great result for the country and for us since if we had given in it would have opened the floodgates for other ports to do the same.
"It was a bit of solidarity in the industry for once, and we have succeeded."
