"Chaotic Congestion" in Fruit Market
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TRAFFIC congestion in Manchester's I Smithfield fruit and vegetable market, which was described as chaotic." brought constant complaints from the police, said Mr. A. C. Clayton, president of the Smithfield Market Traders' Association, in Manchester last week. He told Mr. F. Williamson, NorthWestern Licensing Authority, that he considered James Holden (Crumpsall), Ltd., were largely responsible for this.
The company were applying to add four new vehicles of 18 tons to their A licence, with a normal user • of fresh fruit and vegetables, paper, steel, wire and cooking-fats, Lancashire, London, Southampton, Portsmouth and Berks."
For the applicants, Mr. J. A. Dunkerley stated that in 1956 a by-law had been passed prohibiting the use of trailers of any kind in the market. This ruled out the use of articulated units. Holden had been granted four additional vehicles in place of two 'articulated outfits soon afterwards.
Large vehicles were the main cause ‘if congestion, said Mr. J. Holden, director. Smaller vehicles were the answer. They had done a large amount of subcontracting in the past to operate their trunk service to London, but Mr. J. Wrottesley, for the British Transport Commission, who objected, said that the amount of hiring did not justify foK extra vehicles.
Mr. Holden told the Authority that an application for additional vehicles had also been made to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, but that no decision would be given until the present hearing was concluded.
The case will continue.