Wide load dispensations urged

Farmers who require to move their combines and other big pieces of kit along public roads have been urged to apply to Police Scotland for an agricultural dispensation for wide vehicle movements.

The scheme, agreed betweennfuscotlandand the police, followed extensive discussions in 2015. It means that members with wide vehicles can apply for a dispensation which lasts 12 months to avoid having to notify police for each individual moveament.

Police notification

is required if a vehicle, or implement, is over three metres in width and/or projects more than four metres.

Notification is also needed if the vehicle is travelling more than five miles, or is travelling on any road with a speed limit of less than 40mph.

Jamie Smart, chair of the union’s legal and technical committee, said it was vital that NFU Scotland members ensured that if they required a dispensation, they had to apply for it and have the response from Police Scotland ahead of moving vehicles.

“The union has worked hard to put this in place for farmers and crofters, and it is of benefit to save those carrying out wide vehicle movements time and effort in applying for a dispensation.

“The dispensation document should be carried in vehicles pertaining to it and produced in the event the vehicle is stopped by Police Scotland.”

Union members wishing to make a one-off movement with a wide vehicle were also reminded to apply to Police Scotland for a one-off movement, providing at least 48 hours’ notice of the intended movement.