Wrong Weight Given in Applicatton
Page 41
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SEVEN livestock hauliers objected at Preston, last week, when Mr. E. Glover, Wigan, asked for a three-tier 61-ton livestock container on A licence. He said that if his application were gran ted another haulier, a Mr. Worthington, would delete two vehicles from his licence. These weighed 71 tons.
Mr. J: A. Dunkerley, for Mr. Glover. explained that he entered haulage in 1956 by buying a platform vehicle on special A licence and converting it into a cattle truck. In the 12 months ending September, 1957, turnover was £1,500, but in the next 10 months increased to £2,256.
The Worthington vehicles which would be surrendered had not been operated for some time because of the owner's ill-health. In fact, only one of Mr. Worthington's eight lorries was now in use. Four of the remainder had been transferred to other hauliers, Consequently, Mr. Glover had been inundated with work from Mr. Worthington's former customers, and 26 of them had signed a petition supporting the application.
Mr. H. D. Mace objected for Rigby and Co. (Liverpool), Ltd.; G. F. Wood (Liverpool), Ltd.; Mr. M. Ellison; Mr. F. Wilkinson; Mr. N. Barber and J. Threlfall and Sons. Mr. Glover told him that the four Worthington vehicles still operated in the district and the objectors carried for many of the customers who had signed the petition.
Mr. Mace submitted that Mr. Glover had entered the area without customers and obtained work by reason of his rates. The objectors did not accept the story that Mr. Worthington's vehicles had not operated through his ill-health; his company, Johnson Swales, had been in business difficulties since 1956.
Answering Mr. J. Booth, for British Railways, Mr. Glover said his special A vehicle was under repair and the vehicle now applied for was in possession and was operated under short-term licence.
In reply to the acting Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. L. H. Shelton, he agreed that a letter sent to the Licensing Authority in September gave the vehicle's weight with container as 7f tons. The fact that he was now asking for a vehicle of 61 tons was an error that was regretted.
In view of these facts, said Mr. Dunkerley, he would advise his client to withdraw and make a fresh application.
Mr. Shelton said it was obvious that the weight of the vehicle was in excess of that applied for and the application would be refused. The short-term licence, expiring on January 31, would not be renewed without a public inquiry.