One Customer's Traffic Does Not Justify Fleet Increase
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WHEN Messrs. T. Bell and Sons, Wood Street, Botcherby, Carlisle, applied to the Northern Licensing Authority last week to add a vehicle to their fleet, it was stated that they had three vehicles working day and night on livestock transport for 131 regular customers. There was not time for proper maintenance.
An objector, Mr. John Bowman, Gaitsgill, Dalston, stated that his livestock business had dropped by £150 in a month compared with the return a year ago. He had written to the applicants' chief customers. Messrs. Lancaster and McCrone, cattle dealers, for work but received no reply. This concern supported Messrs. Bells application. Mr. T. L. Bell, a partner in Messrs. Bell, said to Mr. C. North, for Mr. Bowman: "Are you suggesting I should give my extra business to Mr. Bowman?"
Mr. Bowman asked: "What is to happen if Lancaster and McCrone buy all the cattle? Are we other hauliers...to go out of business?"
The Authority refused the application. There was, he said, no evidence of increased livestock traffic in the area. Because one customer had apparently increased his demands on the applicants since the decontrol of meat, it did not mean that the haulier was entitled to take over all the work to the exclusion of the eight or nine other established hauliers in the district. The grant of an extra vehicle would cause an excess of faaities.
British Railways and British Road Services also opposed the application.
DELAY COSTS MONEY: LOWLOADER GRANTED " WHEN low-loaders are required to VV shift building plant very quickly and they are not available, a considerable amount of time and money can be lost," the Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority said last week. He granted Thomas Menzies (Builders), Ltd., Kirkcaldy, a B licence to operate a lowloader within a limited radius.
British • Railways and British Road Services objected. Applicants were said to own the only low-loader in Fife east of Dunfermline. B.R.S. had three at Dunfermline and contended that with reasonable notice they could help builders in ample time.
Mr. W. M. Keith, for Whatlings, Ltd., contractors, referred to large housing and school programmes being carried out in the county—" the most active in Scotland."
LOOPHOLES FOR CHEAP FARES THERE were two " loopholes " in J. the law which make lawful cheap fares for pensioners on municipal buses in Newcastle upon Tyne, the transport committee were told last week. Special rates could be levied if it could be proved that the amount lost to the city was not large enough to harm the undertaking as a business venture, or if the cost were put down to "public relations."
The committee have asked for the cost of providing cheap fares. The id. fare for pensioners will continue.