A-Licence Suspended for Three Months
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"I DOUBT very much whether any of
my colleagues would come to the same conclusion" was how the South Eastern deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. C. Shepherd, Summed up his decision at Southampton last week. F. C. Gordon Transport Ltd., Hayling Island, had been called under Section 178 of the 1960 Act to show cause why two A-licensed vehicles should not be revoked or suspended following allegations of unauthorized change of base and employing unlawful management arrangements.
In evidence, Mr. F. C. Gordon said that he had purchased two special A licences and subsequently a grant was made of two vehicles with the user: "Fruit and vegetables, any distance; ,canned food, machinery and timber. 200 miles from base at Hayling Island." At the end of last year the business ran into financial difficulties which coincided with domestic worries.
Mr. Gordon said that he had been getting deeply into debt and came to an arrangement with T. Davies Transport Ltd. for payment immediately a haul was completed, this work comprising mainly fruit and vegetables from Southampton Docks. For domestic reasons, Mr. Gordon continued, he gave up driving to take a job outside road transport and handed the management of his business over to Davies Transport. Subsequently, application was made to substitute two hired artics for the original vehicles.
The deputy L.A. said that the licensee had admitted that the operating base had been changed. Questioned regarding control of the business, Mr. Gordon claimed that he kept in touch through Mr. Keen, of Davies Transport, but admitted that he did not know the names of his drivers.
Giving his decision, Mr. Shepherd said that the explanations offered provided no real excuse for the gross misuse of the licences, and there was no reason why these should not be revoked. The licensee had got into a hopeless position, but in view of the ,fact that steps were being taken to straighten out matters, he would suspend the licence for three months.