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Suspension for Altering Unladen Weight
Page 75
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AA s FOKE-ON-TRENT garage proprietor. who was alleged to have told a Ministry of Transport official that he was fed up " with transport regulations, had a II licence for one of his lorries suspended for six weeks by the West Midland Licensing Authority. Mr. John Else, at Hanley last Friday.
Mr. Else was conducting an inquiry, under Section 178 of the 1960 Road Traffic Act, into allegations that Mr. H. C. Walchester, of Westwood Garage, Trentham Road, Blurton, altered the unladen weight of the lorry without informing the Licensing Authority.
A decision on an application by Mr. Walchester to "regularize the position" by amending his licence to cover the revised weight of the vehicle, was adjourned.
Similar action was taken over Mr. Walchcster's application for the renewal of A licences for two other lorries, after the Authority had said that figures were required showing the earnings of the vehicles during the past two years and the percentage earning of the A licence vehicles attributable to the commodities they carried.
If satisfactory evidence could be produced, the licence applica4ions could be dealt with in chambers, said the Authority.
Saying that Mr. Walchester had to produce evidence to prove why his B licence should not be revoked or sus-. pended. Mr. Else said there had been a substantial increase in unladen weight; he understood the extra weight had been accounted for by adding a third axle to the vehicle and that Mr. Walchester had paid tax on the increased weight and capacity.
Mr. Walchester, who was not represented, said his son had put in the extra axle, because he had been "pulled up" for driving the vehicle when it was oVer weight.
"Slipped His Mind" No changes had been made in the bodywork, but the effect had been to increase the lorry's carrying capacity from 7-8 tons to 10-11 tons. it had "slipped his mind " to inform the Licensing Authority of the change that had been made.
Mr. Walchester, who said he had been in road transport for 33 years, told the Authority that his profits had increased by over £.400 in two years.
Asked by the Authority if he had told the Ministry examiner that he was " fed up with the regulations," Mr. Walchester replied: "We all say things in a temper."
Announcing his decision, the Authority told Mr. Walchester: "None of us likes restrictions and regulations, quite probably none more so than hauliers. You must remember that these restrictions do not apply to you alone. They apply to all members of the industry and are designed to be mutually protective. The complaint in your case today is really a form of protection fdr yourself and for those engaged in the industry."