Special-A Licence Transfer Halted for Lack of Information
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THE failure of a Wolverhampton haulage company to appreciate the
importance of producing proper information when seeking an A licence to replace special-A licences, brought proceedings to a halt at Birmingham last week. Mr. W. P. James, West Midland Licensing Authprity, withheld approval of the proposed transfer until inquiries were made concerning Excise licences.
Wright Bros. (Wolverhampton), Ltd., were seeking an A licence for eight articulated units with a wide normal user covering special traffics and general goods throughout the country. They were opposed by the British Transport Commission.
Questioning Mr. R. A. Sneath, general manager, who conducted his own case, Mr. James said that the application had twice been adjourned for the production of figures of earnings for individual vehicles. I-le had requested that records of the use of every vehicle, since the last adjournment on February 1, should be kept.
• The original application, for eight semi-trailers not exceeding 15 tons unladen, could not be granted unless there was evidence of need, continued Mr. James. When weighed in , the presence of a representative of the Licensing Authority, the heaviest was 5 tons 4 cwt., and spare semi-trailers above that weight must not be used.
Replying, Mr. Sneath said that the company had 39 spare semi-trailers, but would withdraw the application to use a 15-ton unit of 50-60 tons carrying capacity until they could produce customer evidence. He had not kept proper figures because other matters in the running of the business were more important.
He agreed that three of the vehicles had not been taxed for considerable periods since 1954, but explained that many of the vehicles assigned from the B.T.C. were little better than scrap. One of the tractors had been off the road for two years while it was rebuilt, he added.
A licence for the other two had been refused by the West Midland Licensing Authority in 1954, on the ground that they could not serve the same area as before. Although a licence was obtained in the Western Area it was impossible to operate economically so far from base and the vehicles remained unlicensed. A second attempt in the West Midland Area, in 1959, was refused. It was, however, granted on appeal.
This was the third occasion that the case had been investigated, said Mr. James, and he had failed to impress upon Mr. Sneath the importance of keeping proper figures in order to retain a valuable asset. While he accepted in principle that there was a case for a grant, with the trailer weights as specified, the number' of units would be dependent on evidence obtained from the Local. Taxation -Officer, said Mr. James.
If, subsequent to the appeal, the two vehicles concerned had been in full use, they would be regarded as part of the fleet. If there were substantial gaps their inclusion on the licence was unnecessary, he concluded.
A written decision will be given.
Application for 55 Tours Adjourned at Reading
AN application by Pangbourne Coaches, Ltd., Berks, for a licence to operate 55 new summer tours and
excursions was adjourned by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners, at Reading
last week. The company sought to run tours to beauty spots, places of interest, race meetings and excursions to more than 20 seaside resorts in the south of England.
Objections were lodged by British Railways, Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., Smith's Luxury Coaches (Reading), Ltd., Seuthdown Motor Services; Ltd., and Reliance Motor Services, Ltd., Newbury.
Mr. C. R. Beddington told the Commissioners that Pangbourne Coaches, Ltd., was an off-shoot of Pangbourne Motors, Ltd., who had been running coaches for
some years. They had four assisted express licences and had been carrying
15,000 passengers a year on private party hire. The new licences were sought to cater for people living in Pangbourne and surrounding villages. There was no really suitable facility available to them, he claimed.
Mr. Cyril Lewis Whitnell, managing director, said organizers of private parties often found difficulty in completely filling a coach. It was also inconvenient for people to get into Reading early in the morning to catch one of the excursion coaches of Smith's or Thames Valley. There were no ordinary bus services from Pangbourne to Reading on Sunday mornings, he stated,
JOINT GRANT FOR LEICESTERCROMER SERVICE AJOINT application for a Saturdaysonly express service between Leicester and Cromer, by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., was granted at Leicester, last week, by the East Midland Traffic Commissioners:
The two companies already held licences for a linked service and last summer Midland " Red " carried passengers from Leicester to King's Lynn, whence they travelled by Eastern Counties to the coastal resorts of Norfolk.
The latest decision means that a through-journey will be available to Leicester under one licence. The licence is valid for Saturday journeys, from June 4-September 24, Whitsun and August Bank Holidays, and the Tuesdays following each of the Bank Holiday week-ends.
TV IN COACH
A REAR-ENGINED Ikarus 55 coach 1k with a television screen mounted behind the head of the driver, will be shown at the Budapest Industrial Fair, which opens today. Other facilities offered by the coachbuilders include a refrigerator, food store, toilet, radio and a tape-recorder.