ROAD PREFERRED FOR STEEL TRAFFIC
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AN application for a new A licence for nine vehicles was granted by the Yorkshire deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. H. E. Randolph, at Sheffield last week. E. Thorpe and Co. Ltd., Thurgoland, were applying for a common A licence for nine vehicles, at present three of them being on separate A licences, three on contract to Claywheels Rolling Mills Ltd. and three on contract to J. and J. Dyson Ltd. (See The Commercial Motor, November 29, 1963.) The application was part-heard and, as the evidence continued, Mr. G. Sellars, of Claywheels, said that the company's production of steel was increasing and more vehicles were needed to cope with this output. Mr. G. Crowe, objecting for British Railways, pointed out that if the vehicles were on open A licence they would not work exclusively for one company.
A B.R. representative said that they had facilities to carry more steel traffic, as their wagons were not fully utilized. At this juncture Mr. Randolph observed that although the railways had available facilities the question was really one of the balance of suitability for the traffic. Some of Thorpe's customers preferred road transport. Mr. J. R. C. Samuel Gibbon, for Thorpe, submitted that the customer evidence had been good and he wondered what interest B.R. had in the application. They were not carrying the traffic because of the "balance of suitability ".
When granting the application, Mr. Randolph said he was satisfied that there would be more flexibility if there was a common normal user. He had considered the public interest and there was a prima fade case. It was better for empty mile .age to be utilized by means of a public A licence rather than extra vehicles to be put on the road, he said. The railways were in a difficult position because although they had under-utilized facilities, the customers in the case wanted their goods to go by road. This was the demand the steel industry was making upon road haulage, continued Mr. Randolph, and the railways were in no position to compete.