AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Western Contract Switch Withdrawn

2nd April 1965, Page 55
2nd April 1965
Page 55
Page 55, 2nd April 1965 — Western Contract Switch Withdrawn
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

k LARGE Contract A-to-A application by A. Griffiths and Sons fransport) Ltd. was withdrawn at heltenham on Tuesday, following iticism by the Western Licensing .uthority, Mr. J. K. C Samuel-Gibbon. Ir. Ian Jenkin represented the applicants id Mr. M. McGregor Johnson appeared sr four objectors.

Mr. Jenkin told the LA that the appliints wished to switch to A licence 19 ppers of the 23 vehicles now on Conact A licence. The normal user sought "Goods for A. Griffiths and Sons ;and and Gravels) Ltd., excavation taterials and site clearance, normally ; loucestersh ire."

Mr. D. Griffiths held controlling iterests in the transport and sand and -aye' firms, said Mr. Jenkin. There had :en difficulties on sites when site foremen idrequired the Contract A vehicles to ove spoil and rubbish illegally, and the finistry's enforcement officers had issued arnings. He added that the transport :mands of Griffiths' customers were creasing, and the greater flexibility :rmitted by A-licence operations would :1p.

When Mr. D. Griffiths, director of the iplicant company, gave evidence he was testioned by the LA as to the fleet size the haulage company. The Authority's es indicated there were 25 on A licence id not 23, as claimed by Mr. Jenkin. fter much checking of the documents court, Mr. Griffiths explained that two :ensed vehicles had not been used for

nine months, as major repairs were needed. "We shall replace them ", said Mr. Griffiths, The LA: " l'm not so sure about that; this is a curious way to start an application for additional vehicles on A licence."

When, after an adjournment to enable supporting figures to be clarified, certain discrepancies were still apparent, the LA told Mr. Jenkin: " In many traffic areas you would have been bounced out and told to get your figures right."

Asked by the Authority to explain why Contract A drivers worked illegally on sites, under instructions of site foremen. Mr. Griffiths said he had reprimanded the men concerned, but instructions "went in one ear and came out of the other ". Drivers, he said, often did not know what licence conditions applied; and the vehicles were switched round a good deal, because of maintenance requirements or absenteeism.

Mr. McGregor Johnson challenged Mr. Griffiths to explain why an undertaking—given at a B-to-A switch application in 1963—that steel would not be carried had been broken, as the figures showed some £19,000 work for Richard Thomas and Baldwins. The LA also pressed Mr. Griffiths to explain how he could have forgotten, and disregarded, an undertaking given only 15 months ago. Mr. Griffiths replied that when sand was delivered to Newport, steel or slag would be • brought hack. His A-licence user covered manufactured goods, consumer goods and raw materials.

Transporters Appeal Dismissed: The Transport Tribunal have dismissed the appeals of Motor Vehicle Collections Ltd. and B. .1. Henry Ltd. against the B licence grant, by the Metropolitan LA, of two rigid car trans• porters and two trailers to Anglo Scottish Car Deliveries Ltd. The Tribunal's reasons will be given later. Nottingham to Seek Fares Increase : Nottingham City transport committee is to seek permission to increase all city fares by ld., except for the 2,141. fare, which would go up to 3d. The committee chairman said the application was necessary because of increased costs, largely the wages award given to provincial bus crews last month. The department needed to raise another £250,000 during the next financial year.