Council objections get LA support
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THE West Midland Licensing Authority is happy with the procedures being adopted by local authorities in regard to objections to 0-licence applications.
The LA, Mr A. A. Crabtree, made this clear at a public inquiry in Birmingham last week, following objections in two cases by the West Midland County Council and the City of Coventry.
Mr Crabtree said there had been publicity recently in the trade press about the two trade associations, the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association, being anxious that prior consultations should take place when there was a council objection. He understood that this happened and it was obviously preferable if such cases could be settled before they came to public inquiry.
Mr M. G. Habgood, principal engineer in the county council's engineering and transport department, said representatives of the two associations had had talks with the county council and the leader of the council had indicated that he was satisfied with the procedures being adopted.
In the first of the opposed cases, Alberto Di Maria, of Coventry, was seeking to renew his one-vehicle 0-licence in respect of a mobile shop.
Mr James Russell, an area planning officer of the City of Coventry, said for most of the time the vehicle was not in use it was parked on a verge; which was part of the public highway, at the rear of the pavement opposite the applicant's shop.
The council felt that this was a wholly unsatisfactory place for a commercial vehicle to be kept.
Mr Crabtree said he agreed.
Mr Di Maria said he was not the only one to park on the verge. On occasions a large lorry was parked there.
Granting renewal; Mr Crabtree said he expected the local authority to take action against other people who parkecion the original site. If the council reported commei cial vehicles parking there, h would call the operators cor cerned to public inquiry.
In the second case, the We Midland County Counc opposed an application by John Joseph Ryan, of Sell Oak, Birmingham, for a nel one-vehicle licence. Mr Rya failed to appear and the appl cation was refused.
Mr Habgood said the pr( posed operating centre was i a residential area. He ha received a telephone call i response to the objection an he had told the applicant tl county council felt the pr( posed operating centre mn" unsuitable. He understood a applicant was now seeking find more suitable premis( and he would then make fresh application.