Firm's 'alarming' average : GV9 a month
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4k COLCHESTER firm, Southern Shavings 1. Supply Co. Ltd., which had received an average of one GV9 a month, appeared before Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, the Eastern Licensing Authority, at Chelmsford last week. He described its record as "alarming". In 1966 the company of H. J. Hubbard, of Erith, sold its business to Southern Shavings, which began business in newly acquired river bank premises at Colchester with Mr. H. J. Hubbard engaged as managing director. At this time the company was operating 17 C licence vehicles on collection of sawdust and shavings from sawmills for resale and delivery to chipboard manufacturers and intensive farmers.
Within a few months the fleet strength had been reduced to eight vehicles, six of which were tractive units, with 14 trailers. The company each night parked empty trailers at the sawmills and pulled away loaded trailers. It was this method of operation which caused its troubles, it was alleged.
Mr. W. T. Shields, Southern Shavings foreman fitter, contended that when trailers were loaded and before they were collected they were being moved by the sawmills' employees using forklift trucks. This, it was claimed, caused the damage from which many of the GV9s resulted.
Mr. Shields also said that many of the GV9s had been issued while the vehicles were under repair. Southern Shavings re ceived 20 GV9s in 18 months.
Mr. Ormond asked Mr. Hubbard if his choice of site for workshop premises had been wise, bearing in mind its close proximity to the river and the danger of flooding at high tide. Mr. Hubbard agreed that he could not excavate an inspection pit because of this hazard, but otherwise the premises, in his opinion, were perfectly suitable.
His vehicles were serviced once each month by three fitters and it was his intention to use part of the site eventually as a body repair shop. Mr. Hubbard agreed with Mr. Ormond the record was alarming.
Mr. Ormond told him that in view of all the evidence he would be revoking or suspending part of the licence but that he wanted time to study the facts before deciding on• the extent. The decision was reserved.
NO STONE TURNED UP
AN APPLICATION by Henry Stone and Sort (Furniture) Ltd., of Swan Close, Banbury, Oxon, for 7 new B licences was refused by the East Midland LA in Oxford on Tuesday. No evidence was heard because no one was present on behalf of the company. The application was for vehicles to carry furniture and printing materials.
Application Modified: Yorkshire Area Traffic Commissioners have granted Keighley-West Yorkshire Ltd. permission to increase fares in September, but with modifications reducing the estimated receipts by about £6,800 to £24,000.