RHA withdraws—on terms: LA limits 0 grant
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• Objection by the RHA to an operator's licence application by Private Enterprise Petrol Ltd, of Bransgrove, Hants, was conditionally withdrawn prior to the hearing at Eastbourne on Tuesday. The condition was that the application for three vehicles and one trailer in possession plus nine vehicles and four trailers to be acquired, be amended to those vehicles in possession only. This was accepted.
Nevertheless, after considering the evidence subsequently heard, the South Eastern Licensing Authority, Maj-Gen A. F. J. Elmslie, was only prepared to extend the interim licence for two vehicles for a further six months, and he adjourned the substantive application for six months. The vehicles covered by the licence were an artic and a rigid tanker to be acquired, not yet in possession, the RHA to be informed of its type and registration number.
The RHA originally objected to the application on financial grounds.
In evidence, Mr A. Burnell, a vehicle examiner, said he had recently carried out an inspection. None of those vehicles in possession was tested and plated and all needed repairs. They were distributed over a wide area, including one on a pig farm.
Mr D. Dalby, managing director of Private Enterprise Petrol, said he carried on business as a fuel oil distributor. He proposed to use the vehicles for this business, although if asked he would be prepared to carry fuel for hire and reward.
He said his vehicles were not now allowed into the petroleum terminal to collect fuel as they did not comply with the stringent safety regulations. As it would Cost £200 a vehicle to modify them, he had held this work over until the 0-licence application had been decided. If it were granted, the vehicles would be made ready for plating and testing.
One great difficulty had been securing suitable premises for maintenance and he claimed that he had been negotiating with British Railways for three and a half years to secure a lease on its property at New Milton railway goods yard. He had been promised a letter from BR's Surveyors Department at Waterloo since before Easter. Having made 15 phone calls, he was yesterday assured that one had been posted. The vehicles were at present situated on various premises in order to keep them off the road.
He outlined a proposed maintenance scheme and told the LA he was well aware of the overloading penalties, claiming it was practically impossible to overload a tanker.
Before commencing this business late last year, he said, he was a proprietor of his own garage but had been forced by his bank manager to sell the freehold on the property.
Giving his decision, the LA said he had to be satisfied under Section 64 (2) of the Transport Act 1968. "There seems to be quite a lot of work to be undertaken by you to set your house in order," he concluded.
This is the second 0 licence to which the RHA has objected. At the beginning of July, it was unsuccessful in its objection to an application by Mr B. Knight, of Exeter, who was granted an 0 licence for one vehicle.