17 Objectors Fail To Stop Grant
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WHEN Pettifors Transport (London), VV Ltd., applied to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority on Tuesday, for substantive licences to operate six vehicles in the .Guildford, Surrey, area, they were successful, despite the fact that 17 objectors were represented, Mr. C. R. Beddington (counsel for Pettifors) said the application arose out of the disappearance from the transport world in September, last year, of a firm named Baldry which had operated in the Guildford area. Pettifors Transport bought 15 vehicles which had been operated on licence from Baldry's and in October last year a short term licence was granted for the 15 vehicles. Pettifors had then applied for substantive licences for the vehicles but they, were unable to produce, at the public inquiry, satisfactory evidence relating to all the vehicles. As a result, licences were granted for four vehicles to carry solid fuel. Pettifors had since operated, under short term licences, five vehicles to carry building and road making materials and one vehicle licensed to carry either solid fuel or building materials in addition to the four solid fuel vehicles. They were now asking for a substantive licence in respect of the six vehicles which had short term licences. Mr. Bedclington added: "1 rely on the best evidence there can he—the vehicles have been on the road for a year now and have been fully occupied." He went on: "There is a need for these vehicles to fill part of the gap left by the Baldry organization." . One of four objectors who gave evidence was Mr. Thomas Forrest, director of Harry A. Croff, Ltd., of Ascot, who said his firm had not been very busy in September. "In fact we were looking tor work," he said Another objector, Mr. Stanley Stevens, managing director of Benjamin Heath. Ltd., said his fleet of vehicles was licensed to operate within 25 miles of Guildford. Mr, P. Kenworthy-Browne. representing the objectors, said that all the customers which the applicants now had were acquired by reason of the first short term licence, granted in order that the applicants should not be prevented from carrying out contracts catered into, pending the Authority's decision. The Authority, announcing his decision said: " When Mr. Baldry retired, a large gap was left. The obvious person to fill the greater part of that gap was the purchaser of the majority of the Baldry fleet."