PROPOSED UK AUTO RECYCLERS ROAD TRIP TO THE ARA CONVENTION - OCTOBER 2015

Terry Charlton (Charlton Recycled Autoparts) and Andy Latham (SalvageWire) have been working on a road trip’ for UK auto recyclers wanting to attend the annual ARA (the American Auto Recyclers Association) convention in October.  They have put together the following itinerary. Both Terry and Andy are happy to answer any questions that you may have, and both of them will be on the trip.

A number of UK auto recyclers have been attending the ARA conventions for many years and have seen lots of benefits from their attendance.  This trip gives those seasoned visitors and new attendees the opportunity to visit some of the best yards and businesses in the vicinity of the 2015 Convention, plus (of course) the biggest and best auto recycler’s convention of the year.

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An opportunity for UK Auto Recyclers to visit yards across Virginia and North Carolina on their way to Charlotte for the 72nd ARA Convention and Expo.  See first hand how US recyclers operate, the standards they work to, sales operations, vehicle storage, dismantling, parts distribution and more; meet US auto recyclers in their businesses and network with a select group of UK auto recyclers on the trip. Learn from the best speakers, trainers and developers at the ARA Convention. Browse the Exposition, and network with fellow auto recyclers from around the world.

Enjoy the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Bank of America 500 race including Pit Tour. More convention details at http://www.araexpo.org/2015/

PROPOSED ITINERARY (subject to change at any time)

Sunday 4th October

Meet at Best Western, Springfield VA. Just south of

Washington DC

Monday 5th October

Visit M and M Autos, Fredericksburg VA. 2 locations, one retail, other wholesale

Drive to Richmond VA for overnight stop.

Stay at Best Western Governor’s Inn, Richmond VA

Hotel is adjacent to shopping mall and a Brazilian restaurant that is highly recommended by Terry Charlton

Distance approx 125 miles

Tuesday 6th October

Visit Chesterfield Auto Parts, Richmond VA, and Lacy Auto Parts, Charles City VA.

Drive to Goldsboro NC

Stay at Best Western Goldsboro NC

Distance approx 180 miles

Wednesday 7th October

Visit Wayne Auto Salvage, Goldsboro NC

Arrive at Charlotte, register at the convention.

Distance approx 220 miles

Thursday 8th October

Charlotte - convention seminars and exposition

Friday 9th October

Charlotte - convention seminars and gala dinner

Saturday 10th October

Charlotte - convention seminars and the Bank of America 500 NASCAR Race and pit tour.

Sunday 11th October

Depart Charlotte

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

UK recyclers would be expected to arrange all flights and their own travel insurance; register as a delegate for the ARA Convention (www.a-r-a.org) and book their own hotel rooms. A contribution to hire cars and fuel would be required.

Delegates must ensure that they have a valid passport and appropriate paperwork suitable to enter the USA, for more details please click here to access the Visit USA advice page.

Flights between the UK and the US are easy to arrange, the recommended flights are into Washington DC and return from Charlotte. For best prices look at www.expedia.co.uk  or  www.lastminute.com

Please note. The organisers are not responsible for any travel from Charlotte at the end of the convention.

To book your place please forward details to Andy Latham at Salvage Wire (andy@salvagewire.com), an invoice will then be sent for a non-refundable £100 deposit per person that will be used to book hire cars for the road trip.

Delegate costs for the ARA convention have yet to be advertised, but last years were $550 for ARA members with hotels at a discounted rate of $180 per night, full details of the 2015 costs will be on the ARA website from May 1st 2015. Book early as the allocated rooms in the conference hotel will sell out quickly.  It is worth noting that there are many more hotel rooms in the centre of Charlotte and most are within a 10 minute walk of the conference centre.

SCRAP METAL DEALER LEGISLATION IN SCOTLAND – AN UPDATE

In advance of the Stage 1 debate on the Air Weapons and Licensing (S) Bill tomorrow, the Scottish Government has today (22 April) provided a formal written response to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Bill.

The Stage 1 debate on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill will take place tomorrow Thursday 23 April 2015, starting at 2.30pm in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament

The purpose of the Stage 1 debate is to allow the full Parliament to debate the general principles (policy and purpose) of the Bill, as well as the findings and recommendations of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Bill. Immediately following the debate, the Parliament will vote on whether to approve the Bill at Stage 1 (at Decision Time at 5pm)

If you wish to attend the session you can book tickets online, free of charge, for the public gallery of the Debating Chamber, or you can ring the Parliament’s Visitor Services Department on 0131 348 5200. You can also watch the debate live online on the Parliament’s broadcast website from 2.30pm. The debate may also be available to watch on the Scotland section of the BBC Democracy Live website. 

MVDA members can get more information from the members login section MVDA website (www.mvda.org.uk) & from their e-bulletins

RECYCLING LIVES HIT BY FIRE AT PRESTON SHREDDER SITE

MVDA member Recycling Lives recently suffered a major fire at its scrap metal shredder site (Longridge Road, Preston, Lancashire).

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the site where firefighters found that a pile of cars, approximately 30m x 20m was alight.  15 fire engines and other specialist equipment from across the county, & 100 firefighters, were called to the incident.  Firefighters managed to contain the fire from spreading to other piles of recycling and none of the shredding and sorting equipment on the site was damaged.  However, the site was closed the next day & customers were diverted to one of the companies other sites.

The cause of the fire is not currently clear.

Recycling Lives said that due to planning permission restrictions on the site, the main processing machinery, a state-of-the-art metal fragmentizer, can only operate within the hours of 7:30am - 2pm. So, in order to maximise processing efficiency, scrap metal must be stored beyond the volumes they would ideally wish.

Steve Jackson, chief executive of Recycling Lives said: “Thanks to the exceptional work of firefighters and the outstanding health and safety practises at Recycling Lives, the fire was quickly contained and there have been no injuries or damage to machinery. We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters and other emergency services who have helped us to deal with the incident and we will continue to support their operations in any way we can.

“We would also like to extend our thanks to our customers who have been sending messages of support, particularly our neighbours.”

£45,000 CAR STOLEN JUST 6 HRS AFTER PURCHASE

ITV is reporting that a property developer, Mark Hamilton - who lives in Northern Ireland, has appealed for help in tracking down his new car, a white 2013 Mercedes E63 AMG, after it was stolen from a Birmingham car park – just six hours after he had bought it for £45,000.

The vehicle was driven to Birmingham on his behalf and was due to be loaded on to a lorry to be taken to Northern Ireland. But it was stolen from the Chiquito restaurant car park, on the Hagley Road, between 8pm and 8.30pm on Monday night.

To make matters worse, Mr Hamilton’s insurers have told him that there will be no insurance payout because the vehicle was not under the custody or control of the policy holder

West Midlands Police said “Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information can call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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