Government to look into sub-standard HGV wheels
The government has agreed to appoint a senior civil servant to look at the problem of substandard second-hand HGV wheels entering the UK market.
Road safety minister Mike Penning says the Department for Transport (DfT) official will act as a point of contact for the wheel supply industry, and consider evidence of defective imported wheels or rogue companies supplying them.
It follows a campaign by Paul Goggins, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, backed by wheel supply company, Motor Wheel Service, based in his constituency.
Goggins and representatives from the firm met the minister in November 2010 to express concern over the lack of regulation of second-hand HGV wheels.
During a House of Commons debate in March 2011, the MP urged the government to introduce more rigorous checks on the industry.
Goggins says: "While tyres are closely monitored, wheels are not. With more and more imported HGV wheels coming into the UK, and a growing market for second-hand wheels, it is time for the government to act. "I welcome the Minister's decision to appoint a senior official to follow up specific concerns reported by individuals and companies within the wheel industry." Motor Wheel Service believes there has been a sharp rise in the number of substandard second-hand HGV wheels entering the UK market over recent years. News story courtesy of Roadtransport.com
