BY-PASS RENEWALS DEPEND ON COSTINGS
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MRR. C. R. Hodgson, the North Western LA, has told haulage contractors engaged on the Llandulas-Abergele by-pass that he will not renew their short-term B licences when they expire today—unless he receives satisfactory costings from the contractors involved.
The principal contractor on the fivemile stretch of the by-pass in North Wales is Sir Alfred MacAlpine and Sons Ltd. The sub-contractors responsible for the road haulage operation are Road Foundations Ltd. and W. G. Howells and Partners. It is understood that 27 short-term B licences are involved.
On Tuesday at Wrexham one operator, E. Jones, of Caernarvonshire, appeared before the LA to support his application for the renewal of his licence. The renewal was contested by some RHA tipper operators.
During the hearing the applicant was unable to tell the LA how his cost of 2s. 6d. a ton was compiled. The RHA members contend that the rate should be 3s. 6d. a ton and they have told the contractors that they can supply over 30 vehicles if the rate is adjusted to meet their demand.
On Tuesday the LA advised the objectors prior to the hearing that he felt disposed to extend the period of the short-term licence. He also stated that the objectors would require to show that they had vehicle availability and to satisfy him that 3s. 6d. per ton was an appropriate rate before he would refuse the application.
Mr. Edgar Williams, of Williams Bros., Queensferry, who presented a costings paper at the Tipper Conference at Buxton in October, gave evidence on behalf of the objectors. Later when the LA refused the application he stated that the remainder would not be renewed until the objectors, through the RHA, had discussed the matter with the principal contractor.
Mr. Williams told COMMERCIAL MOTOR this week that before the work began the RHA approached the contractor offering vehicles at 3s. 6d. per ton. The offer had not been accepted and the contractors had advertised for vehicles to be operated on C hiring licences.
At the LA's request the RHA sent a letter after the hearing to the contractor in an effort to maintain continuity of work on the by-pass.