B.R.S. Refused Six 'Artics' for Barnstaple Base
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WHAT Mr. C. J. McDonald, Western Deputy Licensing Authority,.
described as an ambitious application by British Road Services, came to nothing at Exeter, last week. At the conclusion of a two-day hearing, he refused an application by B.R.S. for a new A licence for six articulated outfits of 88 tons total carrying capacity, with which they intended to establish a new depot at Barnstaple.
Mr. R. C. Oswald, for B.R.S., said that, during nationalization, they had a base and six vehicles at Mill Road, Barnstaple. As a result of the 1953 Act, the vehicles were all sold and left the district. Since then, B.R.S. had operated a telephone service from an office in the town, drawing on their depots at Exeter, Newton Abbot and Bridgwater, to meet the demands of customers.
This reSulted in a good deal of dead mileage and, as the traffic was increasing, not only at Barnstaple, but in the areas of the three other depots, they now sought to re-establish themselves in the North Devon town.
' There was, he claimed, an urgent need for additional articulated vehicles capable of carrying heavy loads, particularly to meet the demands of the timber, boatbuilding, laminated wood and concrete industries.
The principal witnesses called by B.R.S. were concerned in these industries, but, cross-examined by Mr. T. D: Corpe, for 19 objectors, several agreed that they used B.R.S. because their rates were 'cheaper.
Mr. Corpe produced evidence that B.R.S. rates for carrying wood pulp were 33s. 6d. per ton, against something like 53s. per ton by private contractor.
Rates Decreased
He then put in figures which showed that B.R.S. rates generally in the Barnstaple area had decreased by 20 per cent. since 1952. Cross-examining Mr. P. W. J. Baker, Exeter district traffic manager of B.R.S., Mr. Corpe asked him to what extent their operating figures had risen in the same period, Mr. Baker estimated 20 per cent.
Mr. Corpe: "Then either you were exploiting the public to the tune of 40 per cent. during nationalization, or you are now operating at uneconomic rates to attract traffic from other operators? "
Mr. Baker denied this, saying that the reasons for the decrease were the use of vehicles capable of carrying far heavier loads, and increased efficiency.
Pressing his point, Mr. Corpe alleged that two operators in the area who had been sub-contracting to B.R.S. had gone out of business because they were unable to operate at B.R.S. rates, less 10 per cent. commission.
Mr. Baker said the timber rates referred to were those for 15-ton loads. The Welsh pulping company which accepted most of the timber from North Devon insisted on receiving timber in not less than 15-ton loads, although, he agreed, only because the rates were cheaper.
Mr. T. S. Lamey, of W. J. Lamey and c4C
Sons, Ltd., Appledore, chairman of the North Devon Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association and one-time manager of the B.R.S. Barnstaple depot, appeared as principal objector. He said the R.H.A. considered it a serious matter that B.R.S. should increase their goodwill by the use of private operators (on hire) and now proposed to send six additional vehicles into the area.
Mr. Lamey quoted examples of price reductions offered by B.R.S. He had lost 1,000 tons of manure traffic per year to them, he said, because they had undercut his price. He quoted further examples in respect of boxes of eggs and wool.
When Mr. Oswald asked him whether he was alleging that B.R.S. were operating at uneconomic rates, Mr. Lamey replied: "I am."
He offered proof that B.R.S., through a sub-contract, had delivered wood into the pulping factory in a 10-ton load but had accepted the 15-ton rate. When an invoice to this effect was shown to Mr. R. V. Cole, Bristol district manager of B.R.S., he claimed that this related to traffic from London, which, he said: came under a different 'rating system.
Mr. R. Read, of Longhope, a witness for the objectors, said he used to carry 100450 tons of wood a week to the pulp factory and was paid 53s. per ton. He lost the business to B.R.S., who charged about 33s. per ton.
On two occasions, he said, B.R.S. had appealed against grants made to him in respect of additional facilities for the haulage of wood by Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority. These appeals had met with some success and the whole question was to be reviewed when Mr. Read applied for renewal.
Giving his decision, Mr. McDonald said: "This is an ambitious application and where 47 tons unladen weight is sought, one looks for customer evidence. Comparing the customer evidence here with the kind I accept in a favourable light, a good deal was eulogy on the B.R.S. work done. Odd complaints were exceptional.
"There was great emphasis on the needs of the timber trade. I don't know why, because the chief customer, the pulp mills, did not bother to appear."
Naturally Pleased Referring to the discussions on rates, • Mr. McDonald went on: "I can understand the attitude of the small operator. B,R.S. closed down in Barnstaple and they were naturally very pleased—and now they don't want them back on their doorstep.
"Customers of B.R.S. no doubt relish the special rate, and they expect to get that rate from other hauliers. The result is that traffic is gravitating to B.R.S. which otherwise might have gone to independent hauliers. There's nothing wrong with B.R.S. doing this, but one is entitled to draw an inference on the effect on small hauliers.
"British Road Services could have built up business on the spot by the transfer of one or more vehicles to Barnstaple. And this would have been a reasonable request.
"It would have been better, too, if they were making application for new vehicles for the other depots, to undertake a complete application at one time.
"The application cannot be justified on six new vehicles. There is no evidence to show that six vehicles would be fully employed and the application is refused.