May Dead Condition be Revived After Take-over ?
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SHOULD the purchaser of a B-licence L•I business be entitled to revive a dead condition to the detriment of competitors, simply because it was not realized when the take-over was granted that this work had lapsed?
This point was argued before the North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. R. Lindsay, at Wrexham, on Tuesday, when two North Wales hauliers, Rowlands and Son, Broughton, and A. E. Owen, Mold, objected strongly to an application for the renewal of a B licence by Williams Bros„ Treuddyn.
They claimed that since the two vehicles concerned were taken over, they had been operated exclusively for livestock, although this traffic had not been carried for five years before the take-over, by the original licence holder, Mr. Stevenson, of Mynydd Isa.
Mr. Edgar Williams, in evidence, said that when he took over the business he was introduced to livestock customers and bought a container, which had been discarded.
Questioned by Mr. G. P. Crowe, for the objectors, Mr. Williams denied that Mr_ Stevenson worked almost full time for the Tunnel Portland Cement Co., Ltd., and that the balance was a similar type of work. He agreed that he had no base at Mynydd Isa and that it had no relation to the vehicles' present garage or administration, which was at Treuddyn.
Mr. L. Rowlands, said that he had seven A-licence vehicles carrying livestock. His own vehicles were not fully utilized.
Mr. Crowe submitted that, in effect, Mr. Williams had purchased a B licence, integrated the two vehicles with his existing fleet by changing their base, and used them exclusively for livestock. The take-over was originally granted without containers, but now, on renewal, they were sought. Both the alteration of base and the renewal of livestock work were irregular.
Mr. Edward Jones said he had never known a condition which had not been used, to be removed from a B licence on a take-over application.
Mr. Lindsay said that only recently had it become common practice to disclose containers in applications. He saw nothing wrong in the renewal and it woad be granted.
WAITING RULES DISCUSSED DROPOSED traffic regulations to ease congestion were to be discussed yesterday by Westminster City Council. It was suggested that waiting to load or unload goods vehicles might be permitted freely up to 11 a.m., but limited to 20 minutes after that hour.
The general no-waiting period, which ends at 6.30 p.m. on weekdays, may start at 8.30 a.m. instead of 11.30 a.m.
The Minister of Transport has accepted the proposals, made by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, and they are likely to be introduced on January 1, 1958.
70 SERVICES TO BE CUT?
AN application for cuts in more than 70 Northamptonshire bus services has been made to the East Midland Traffic Commissioners by the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd. Mr. R. 0. Howe, assistant general manager, said traffic had declined and many of the journeys were no longer necessary.
• GENEVA NEXT MARCH MEXT year's Geneva Motor Show 1 will be held from March 13-23. The closing date for entries is October 15.