Partial Grant, Pending Information
Page 48
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AN important fact which had emerged was that insufficient tanker capacity existed on Merseyside, stated Mr. E. S. Fay, Q.C., speaking on behalf of Robertson Buckley and Co. Ltd.,. at Liverpool last week.
Because of this, the company wanted two new units, one rigid and one articulated, to carry bulk chemicals, oils, greases and waxes to Lancashire, Cheshire, tlig Midlands, London, Yorkshire, Glasgow, South Wales, East Coast, East Anglia and the Southern Counties.
The application, which was part-heard, was opposed by several private road operators and Mr. J. E. Jones, for the operators, said that the evidence produced did cover all the areas and commodities mentioned in the normal user. Some of the major oil companies were important customers of the applicant, yet they had not been represented at the hearing. It had been stated, continued Mr. Jones, that Robertson Buckley had recently taken over Gilbert Lawrenson and Sons Ltd., so the company would be operating the vehicles from this organization. There was no proof that a tanker shortage existed and the reverse seemed to be the case from the evidence produced.
Mr. Fay concluded that evidence of potential new traffic had been produced and one witness had told of diverting traffic from Liverpool to London, because he believed that the tanker situation was easier there.
The North Western deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. H. Jolliffe, considered that a prima facie case had been made out, but more information was needed about the Lawrenson fleet. He granted one vehicle and put the other on shortterm licence, adding that a substantive grant would be made regarding the latter in about four months, if this information was made available.