Newcomer Seeks Six Tippers On B Licence : Two Are Granted
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AN ambitious application by F. and P. Taggart, Croy (Dunbarionshire), to enter haulage by the transfer of six tippers totalling 174 tons from C to B licence, with conditions of "general goods within 25 miles of base," was heard by the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, at Glasgow on Tuesday. There were 10 objectors, including British Road Services, British Railways, Road Services (Forth), Ltd., and J. and A. Smith
of Maddiston, Ltd.
Mr. A. McKenzie, for the applicants, said it was proposed to amend the conditions to read: "Road and building materials within 25 miles." The company had been general contractors for the past 12 years and the six vehicles concerned were on C licence.
George Wimpey's Scottish transport manager, Mr. a W. Dent, said although they had more than 2,000 vehicles on C licence, only about 100 operated in Scotland. They had always depended on local hauliers for site work. Building projects and a new tarmacadam plant in the area turning out 40 tons an hour for road surfacing had increased their need for transport. The applicant would be more economical than other hauliers as he was already bringing in materials to sites and could be used to cart spoil away.
Case Made Out
Mr. Quin ruled that on the evidence there was a case for the objectors to answer but for only two vehicles with a radius of 15 miles.
After evidence on behalf of Hugh Clellan and Sons; Robert Pollock, Ltd.; Alexander Dunn (Kilsyth Carrier), Ltd.; and Lawson Bros., that they had nearly 50 tippers on A and B licence and were prepared to supply Wimpey's needs, Mr. J. Law submitted that it had been amply proved that there was sufficient transport to meet the demand. Some of the objectors were nearer to the Wimpey sites at Bishop Briggs and Bear's Den than the applicants and were already taking in materials.
Mr. McKenzie said there was a distinction between Taggart and the ordinary newcomer. The vehicles had all been used by the supporting customers doing gub-contracting work and it was merely a change in operation because they no longer owned the materials carried.
Granting two vehicles, Mr. Quin said the, licence would he restricted to the three companies supporting the application. The objectors would have carried more weight if schedules of availability had been produced.
The other four objectors consequently withdrew.
PLEA FOR I.R.T.E. RECRUITS
AN appeal to members of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers for more recruits was made yesterday by their president, Mr. G. Mackenzie Junner, editor of The Commercial Motor. He said present membership totalled 2,272, and increased subscriptions early this year had not resulted in any large-scale falling-off.
One-way Singles for Workmen's Service
THE introduction of a single fare on a workmen's service would be dangerous to other operators, Mr. J. A. Dunkerley said at a Manchester hearing last Tuesday.
Blundell's Coaches (Southport), Ltd., were applying to add picking-up points at Scarisbrick, Bickerstaffe, the Rainford By-pass and Carr Mill (St. Helens) to their workmen's service between Southport and Risley. They also wanted to revise the_tirnetables and introduce single fares.
Mr. W. Blundell said in evidence that there had been many requests for these picking-up points and passengers who were travelling only one way often had to buy return tickets.
Mr. Dunkerley, objecting for Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and Gregsons Motors, Ltd., asked why no witnesses had been brought, and said that the objectors provided adequate services to Risley.
Mr. Blundell replied that many passengers still preferred to travel on single journeys with him and pay return fares. At the moment he was operating two single-deck buses a day.
Mr. T. Boardman, a L.U.T. traffic assistant, said there were no direct workmen's services from Carr Mill to Risley.
Mr. Dunkerley submitted that there was no supporting evidence to the application and there would be danger if the single fares were introduced. He pointed out that the Atomic Energy Plant at Risley employed about 5,000 people.
Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said that if Mr. Blundell would submit a map giving the positions of the picking-up points, he would grant them all with the exception of that at Carr Mill.
The timetable must remain in abeyance until the points were decided. Single fares would be granted only on inward journeys to Risky and a condition would be added to the licence to prevent more than two single-deck buses or one double-decker being operated by Blundell's on any one day.
BUSES TO BE WITHDRAWN
BECAUSE a bus service between Cawsand (Cornwall) and Millbrook Ferry (Devon) has been losing about £500 a year, it is to be withdrawn next Monday. The operators are the Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Co., Ltd.
Hauliers Are Warned : Weights Must Tally
APPEARING for a haulier at Carlisle last week, Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw declared: "I think there is not a vehicle operating in this country which is the same weight as stated on the application form." To this, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, replied: "I shall revoke any that come to my knowledge!"
Mr. Wardlaw was representing Mr. W. Stubbs, Norfolk Road, Penrith, when he unsuccessfully applied for an A licence following the revocation of his special A licence. The Authority was told that the revocation was ordered because Mr. Stubbs was operating a 74-ton vehicle, whereas his licence stipulated a 54-tonner..
After obtaining the licence he had fitted a heavier body and heavier tyres to the vehicle, and the necessary amount had been paid to the taxation office.
Mr. Hanlon remarked that to increase the weight of a vehicle was nothing less than cheating, and operators must take the risk of having their licences revoked.
Mr. Wardlaw pointed out that any vehicle accumulated weight irrespective of what was done to it. When the British Transport Commission sold ye' 'cies back to the public it was invariably found that they were heavier than described in the log books.
"Any vehicle put on the roads today and operated for three months would be heavier at the end of that time," he stated. "Practically every special A licence would be heavier than that specified on the application."
Refusing the application, Mr. Hanlon said it would be " monstrous " if the country were to be flooded with vehicles which became 24 tons heavier overnight.
R.H.A. REORGANIZE IN N.W.
ASTORM in a teacup has been caused by the proposal to reorganize the North Western (Western) Area of the Road Haulage Association by centralizing administrative and licensing work in Liverpool. The public relations centre at Holywell is to be closed and Mr. Haydyn Roberts, who had a roving commission in North Wales, has been taken on the Liverpool office staff.
Some 400 members, in the Wrexham, Montgomeryshire, Conway Valley, Merionethshire, Anglesey and Caernarvon sub-areas, are affected by. the change.
It is understood that Mr. Roberts will no longer -attend the traffic courts while the North Western Licensing Authority is on circuit in North Wales.
BIG CLEANSING ORDER
VVHAT is believed to be the largest single order for cleansing vehicles has been placed with Glover, Webb and Liversidge, Ltd., by Wandsworth Borough Council. The company are to supply 20 Lodek 25-cu.-yd. barrier-loading semitrailers and 15 20-cu.-yd. semi-trailers and, through E. J. Baker and -Co. (Dorking) Ltd., 35 Scammell Scarab tractors with Perkins engines.