Huge thanks also go to Toby Byers and Chris Makepeace at Middleton quarry for supplying an essential contract for the Forestry Commission. A new forest road needed to be constructed to allow harvesters to remove trees and it was a time critical project. This is classed as essential works because a lot of the timber is used for bio-burning, which creates electric/power.
The call came through for the materials just as the team were being furloughed and the quarry temporarily closed. However, Toby and Chris were willing to keep the quarry open for a further four days to fulfil the order. The customer was very grateful and sent this email:
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you and the team at CEMEX for the supply of stone to Hamsterley.
After receiving the call from you on 3rd April saying the quarry was closing due to COVID-19 that evening I was very disappointed and frustrated. I explained to you how the job was classed as Essential work and we had to complete it. You then said you would speak to management to see what could be done but couldn’t promise anything.
When you contacted me shortly after to say the quarry was willing to stay open just for us for the next four days, I was so very relieved.
I believe the Quarry Manager operated the weighbridge, and subbies were in for the loading and haulage. This was very kind of the Manager to do this.
If we hadn’t of had the supply of the stone we would not have been able to complete the job meaning timber could not be extracted from the forest and led off site. We would have also had to furlough another four men as the job could not have continued, and we are limited at the moment on what work we can do.
So once again on behalf of WL Straughan & Son Ltd I want to thank CEMEX very much!!”