Mr. Townsend Hears About Illegal Work By Scottish Hauliers
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ILLEGAL operation outside the 15-mile radius of his licence was admitted by livestock haulier, John McIntosh, Kirriemuir, at a sitting of the Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority, in Dundee, last week. McIntosh was asking for an additional 3-ton vehicle on his B licence, and an extension of radius from 15 to 90 miles in respect of both vehicles, for the carriage of livestock and farm produce. The application was supported by eight farmers in the Kirriemuir district, but was opposed by seven private hauliers, British Road Services and British Railways.
Under, cross-examination by the objectors, McIntosh admitted that his figures included work done illegally outside his present 15-mile radius. He was unable to state earnings for work confined to the 15-mile radius, but said he could not earn a living within that radius. It was uneconomic.
Mr. Ivo Townsend, the Deputy Licensing Authority, refused the application. He said that he agreed a number of witnesses had been brought in support, but evidence of actual need over a continuous period was sadly lacking. On .occasions transport had not immediately been available. One of the witnesses had said that, in his opinion, it should be possible to get a vehicle whenever it was wanted. Mr. Townsend said if that were the position in the country, no vehicles at -all would be able to move on our present road osystem.
He imagined that figures produced in support of the application included figures covering work which had been performed illegally.
Suspension Warning Mr. Townsend warned of the possibility of suspension in the case of James Thomson, Broughty Ferry, who applied for a 6-ton vehicle on A licence, "general goods within Scotland and extension to the Midlands of England for certain specified commodities." Thomson offered to surrender a Special A licence issued by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority if his application was granted. Thomson admitted that for the past two years the Metropolitan vehicle had been operated from Broughty Ferry without authority.
Mr. Townsend said before giving a decision, he wanted detailed figures in respect of .the earnings of all the other vehicles on• Thomson's existing licences, to satisfy 'himself that they were fully employed. If he was satisfied that there was a case for an additional vehicle to be operated from Broughty Ferry, in view of the fact that without any authority Thomson had been operating this vehicle from Broughty Ferry for a couple of years, he would have no alternative, if he granted it, but to suspend the vehicle for a period which he would decide later.
Mr. Walter Fletcher. solicitor, said the vehicle had been operated from the London base for a short time, but Thomson found it more convenient to deal with it from the Broughty Ferry base.
Mr. Townsend said that, at the time Thomson decided to operate from Broughty Ferry, if he had wished to regularize the position it was quite open to him to do so by applying for an additional vehicle from Broughty Ferry. He had decided not to do so, but to operate from Broughty Ferry a vehicle which was authorized to be used from a London base.