New B Licence Granted for 37 Vehicles :i Objectors Withdraw
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ONE of the _largest .applications ever to be heard in. the North Western Traffic Area—a request for a new B licence, to cover '37 vehicles—was successful at Liverpool, last week. The Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr'. J. R.Lindsay, granted The licence to Helsby and Longden; .Ltd., Frodsham, after hearing that all :the objectors had
withdrawn.' . • Mr. J. Edward Jones, for the company, said thc original :application was for 46 vehicles to carry packed ,petroleum products and bitumen, empty metal containers, animal feeding stuffs, fertilizers and seeds as required."
This brought objections from five private hauliers and the British Trans-. port Commission, so 'consultations were held with the lOCal Road and Rail Negotiating Committee. -As a result, the number of 'vehicles was reduced by nine, and :the conditions . were amended to: "
Goods for ,Shell-Mex and 13.P., Ltd., and their associated companies; also for J. Ashworth and Sons, Ltd.; V.: Blagdon (Manchester), Ltd.; and R. Silcock and Sons, Ltd.c within 60 miles."
Hauliers Since 1926
Helsby and Longden had been haulage since 1926, and when' the application was made they operated eight vehicles on A licence and 46 on cOntract-A, Three of the contract vehicles were cancelled this year by Chester Farthers, Ltd., and-the work Was now being clone under A licence.
The desire to change to B licence was bound up with the problem of uneconomic operation and pressure from customers for a better service.
Mr. L. Longden said he wanted to weld the contract vehicles into an interchangeable fleet which would enable them to reorganize many duplicate runs now made to garages and farms throughout the area for the distribution of petroleum products and animal feeding stuffs.
The Shell Group were now disinclined to grant contract licences for this side of their work and were also getting rid of C-licence vehicles formerly used-11 of these had already been given up and the demand had increased accordingly. The contract vehicles had all been fully employed, but the object was now to do the work with a smaller number of vehicles.
Agreement with Objectors The present figure had been arrived at in negotiation with the objectors, and the company had gone as far as they dared. They would be faced with considerable difficulty in the peak months.
Mr. A. Taylor, a supplies and transportation supervisor for Shell-Mex and B.P., said his company felt strongly that this was a better way to have the traffic moved. During the past 18 months the company's policy had been to contract out to private hauliers the distribution of packed oils to filling stations. If the application succeeded further contracts would not be granted fOr 'that ..cras: of work.
'Questioned by -Mr. Lindsay, Mr.' T. Boothrbyd, traffic manager. of R. SileoCk and Son, Ltd. 'said 'the scheme" was sponsored-by Shell-Mex, and, after careful coriSidefation; they,. were of the opinion that it would be beneficial. • Mr. A.' J. Ashworth, Managing' director of J. Ashworth and .Sons; Ltd., said his company would get .better -service from a -37-vehicle' fleet . than from the -five vehicle's -they 'now had on 'contract, Granting the application, Mr. Lindsay said that although there was thepossibility that one or Other of the customers might not -get as good a service with vehicles that Were not at their sole disposal, • he was satisfied with the explanations given. -`.. •
RR. RENEWALS GRANTED
WHEN British RailWays sought TY renewal of their. licences covering 137 vehicles and .133 trailers in the Dundee district,., last week; the Scottish Licensing Authority „set aside two days for the hearing. However, the case lasted only 15 minutes,. because an agreement was reached resulting in all the objections being . withdrawn.
A similar agreement prevented objecttions to licence renewals for 37 vehicles and 31 trailers in the Perth district. In both cases the objections had originally been lodged because of the area of operations requested.