A BLACKBURN company has won a major contract to deliver fleet hire and maintenance services to the county council.

The five-year deal sees Monks Contractors providing 30 new Volvo tractor units and BMI waste trailers to Lancashire Renewables Ltd to transport municipal and recyclable waste on behalf of the county council.

The tender process gave considerations to the council’s ‘low carbon future work programmes, social value and its sustainability objectives’.

The Volvo tractor units set to be used have been manufactured at a carbon-neutral facility and have a series of features designed to achieve between 2-5% fuel efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint during the duration of the contract.

Mellor Brook-based Monks Contractors was founded 27 years ago and is owned by Chris and Louise Monk.

Mr Monk started the company in 1993 when he left school to begin farming with a few sheep which he bought with his pocket money. At the age of 17, he met Louise while working on a farm in Mellor.

The business began when Mr Monk bought his first tractor, allowing him to begin contracting work and, between the couple, Monks Contractors was born.

Managing director, Mr Monk, said: “It’s fantastic Lancashire County Council has chosen a local partner to deliver this ambitious project and we can’t wait to get started.

“Our company motto is ‘working towards a greener environment’, so Lancashire Renewables’ sustainability objectives align perfectly with our own. We’re excited to start working together on a more sustainable future for Lancashire.”

Lancashire Renewables Limited was established for the operation and management of the two central waste treatment facilities at Thornton and Farington, built for the Lancashire Waste Contract.

Paul Brindle, general manager at Lancashire Renewables Limited said: “Monks and their supply chains, Volvo and BMI, have provided exemplary support since the contract award and specifically in regards of meeting our target deadline for the service commencement of the new fleet; and especially during the challenges that we have all faced during the global pandemic.”