Coal by Road Not Encouraged
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A REPRESENTATIVE of one of the biggest coal-transport LA undertakings in the country told Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, at Bristol last week that whatever grant he made they had to receive the authorization of the National Coal Board before any coal could be carried by road.
The N.C.B. did not encourage the road transport of coal, added Mr. C. C. Dangerfield, of Thrutchley and Co., Ltd., Manchester. He was supporting an application by Messrs. R. McLindsay, Lydiard Millicent, Wilts, for an additional vehicle to transport coal from mines in the Midlands, South Wales and Somerset within a radius of 200 miles.
Mr. DangerfieId, who said his company spent millions of pounds with British Railways in a year, stated that there was an ever-increasing demand by merchants and others to receive coal by road. Last winter his company spent "many, many pounds "in contacting hauliers.
He told the Authority that if the application were refused. Thrutchley would simply "look around" for another haulier. They would not use the railways to any greater extent, Mr. James Amphlett, for BritishRailways, said that it would be " tragic " if the railways were going to be robbed of a substantial amount of traffic as a result of coal going by road. This was an important case for the railways because it might be the thin edge of the wedge to greater concessions.
Granting the application, but limiting the radius to 120 miles, Mr. Nelson said that the applicants had made full use of their existing vehicles, and he did not think the additional vehicle would mean any abstraction of traffic from the railways.
APPLICANTS TOLD OF LIKELY PROCEEDINGS
APPLICANTS who sought permission to run two vehicles to carry quarried materials within 150 miles last week were told by Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, that "certain happenings had come to his notice" and that "proceedings were in contemplation."
Mr. T. D. Corpe, who appeared for the applicants, the Sandford Haulage Co., Sandford, Somerset, stated that his clients were anxious that their application should be dealt with /hat day. He pointed out that the vehicles asked for were cif a special kind, and there was some urgency at this time of the year when road-making was at its peak.
Mr. Nelson said that he did not think he should make a grant as he was not satisfied with the way the business was being carried on.
The case was adjourned.
RAIL FREIGHT INCREASE CONTINUES
RAILWAY freight receipts continue to IA maintain their improvement. In the 16 weeks to April 24, they totalled £99.7m., compared with £98.2m. in the corresponding period of 1959.
London Transport's road passenger services increased their revenue from £16m. to £16.8m., and the British Transport Commission's provincial and Scottish bus undertakings raised their receipts from £16.3m. to £16.7m.
At £197.7m., the Commission's receipts from their transport activities in the first 16 weeks of this year were £6.6m. higher than in the corresponding period of last year.