Authority Rebukes Lax Hauliers
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BERS of the road-haulage induswho do not observe closely and F the conditions of 'their licence, iticized last week by Mr. S. W. the Western Licensing Authority, pl. .1elson was hearing an application ,olden -Valley Transport Ltd., of lifford, near Bristol, for A licences r eight-wheeled tipper' lorries to lid, pre=pack.ed coal for Krycoal e-rnally within 150 mites. m Valley was -also appearing to use why its B licence should not ked or suspended. F. D. Corpe, for the applicant, firm was fined £4 on each of mmonses at Staple Hill early this a breach of licence conditions, ,ccurred in order to help out cusluring the very bad winter period. rector of Golden Valley, Mrs. May Drew, pleaded guilty to the . It was my mistake because I we were covered for agricultural Nelson said he regarded the as a very serious matter. When such court proceedings he always i)e hauliers concerned to appear him. He said that licence conlad to be observed. Mr. Corpe referred to " a sorry history of the firm." The business had experienced a series of misfortunes since it was formed. Mrs. Drew had put between £2,000 and £3,000 into the business in the last two years and she saw an opportuni4i to re-establish the haulage business by working for Krycoal. Troubles began, she said, when early in 1962 twc Vehicles were involved'in accidents and one of the firm's drivel's was killed. Because of this Golden Valley lost its insurance cover. However, hired vehicles replaced the vehicles under substitute licences. The vehicles were later off the road because the Licensing Authority would not extend the substitution period. Trade again suffered when Rheem Lysights, one of the firm's main customers, went over to British Road Services. From September, 1962, Golden Valley operated articulated vehicles and was seriously affected when, during the winter period. articulated lorries were banned from the Bristol-Gloucester A38. Further breakdowns occurred, which added to the difficulties. Mrs. Drew said that gross receipts in the first year were £15,037, but dropped to £2,676 in the second year ending June, 1963. If the licences were granted the
firm would carry return loads for Charlton Concrete Co., Bristol.
Mrs. Drew denied that her haulage business was advertised for sale. She said although the telephone number at the bottom of an advertisement was hers, the advertisement related to Dando's Haulage, Bristol, which her husband was selling for the firm. In support of the application.. Mr. Richard A. Krywald, a director of Krycoal, said the demand for pre-packed coal averaged about 500 tons a week in the winter and 100 tons in the summer. but this was likely to increase. Granting the application, Mr. Nelson said hc did it only on the understanding that he would not be bothered again by I icenee offences. He added: " I will be quite frank. The reason I am granting this is not really to benefit Golden Valley Transport, but because I am required by the Transport Act to give preference to the customer. and Mr. Krywald is going to be in difficulty if 1 don't grant it." The Licensing Authority accepted it was not Mrs. Drew's business which was advertised for sale. "I don't sit here to make grants, as I am doing now, for the purpose of someone getting a better price for their business," he said.