Northern Ireland Trailers seeks more
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AN increase in traffic between England and Northern Ireland prompted an application for four new articulated A outfits by Northern Ireland Trailers Ltd., at Preston on Friday. Two of these units w'ere already on short-term licence and the normal user sought was: " mainly goods to and from Liverpool and Preston in connection with ferry services to Ireland".
Mr. L. J. Donkin, traffic manager, said that tractors towed their trailers down to the docks and then the trailers went across to Ireland fully loaded. They were then attached to more tractors and taken to their destination. The enormous increase in traffic had resulted in delays for customers as the company had been unable to acquire sufficient vehicles to deal with it It was not always possible to hire articulated tractors'. Some loads were carried in 12-ton containers. The Irish ferry service had been in operation for 15 years and the ships were run by the British Transport Commission. 'Since ;1961, business had increased by 19-92 per cent, earnings by 27.17 per cent and sub-contracting by 176.81 per cent. ' The delays affected the return loids from Ireland and ultimately the customers in England.
Donkin added that it was difficult to call many customer witnesses as they were scattered all over Northern Ireland and Britain.
He told Mr. A. Jolly, objecting for the B.T.C., that the traffic balanced itself both ways between the two countries, but there was a tremendous shortage of articulated tractors in Preston. If the application was granted they did not intend to buy any more trailers but to licence some they already had.
Mr. H. A. Heuston, of Stanton and Stavley Ltd., Nottingham, stated that the company sent concrete pipes over to Ireland via the applicant. This traffic was unsuitable for rail transport. The company, was seven to 10 loads a day behind with deliveries and was trying to move this by sub-contracting. Representing Synthetic Fibres Co., of Bradford, Mr. J. Chapman said that the company imported " Acrilan ", which was manufactured in Ireland, and distributed it to mills. Often consignments were two to three days late and there had been delays of one week. The case is to be continued.