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Scottish LA warns Ulster hauliers
Page 25
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• Because of growing concern over the breaches of regulations, the Scottish LA, Mr. A. B. Birnie, took the unique step of holding a public inquiry into the applications by six Ulster firms for renewal of a total of 33 short-term B licences. The firms concerned were Northern Transport Services Ltd., Belfast; Woodside Bros., Ballynure; S. D. Currie of Dunsilly, Co. Antrim; Duke and Sons, Portadown; S. G. Bartlett, Bally-money and J. N. Winter, Portadown. At the close of the inquiry the LA told representatives of the firm that, in view of the evidence, he had decided to grant all the applications but said: "I am, however, giving a strict warning to all involved, and that is not only the hauliers who are here today.
"I will be keeping a strict eye on this in conjunction with my colleagues in England. I will not accept ignorance as an excuse."
Mr. Birnie said he thought it was clear from what he had heard during the inquiry, held at Stranraer on Wednesday, that he had good cause for concern.
Mr. James Law, representing five of the applicants, told the LA that if the inquiry had done nothing else it had cleared the air and everyone now understood exactly what he had to do and not to do.
Mr. Alfred Collis, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Development (Road Transport Division) in Northern Ireland and the Ulster LA, told Mr. Birnie: "My Ministry shares with you the concern for some of these rather blatant offences. I can assure you we have the same problem with Scottish hauliers in Northern Ireland."
Mr. Collis said he had visited each of the six applicant firms, pointing out that his Ministry was concerned that anyone on either side of the sea crossing should do anything to disrupt the reciprocal arrangements between the two countries.
Four of the six firms involved have applied to the Scottish LA for normal B licences and their applications will be listed in the next Applications and Decisions. An inquiry into the expected objections by Scottish and English hauliers is almost certain to be held.