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Russell Standardization Bid Granted in Part

21st December 1962
Page 29
Page 29, 21st December 1962 — Russell Standardization Bid Granted in Part
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Keywords : Business / Finance

WE want to standardize our fleet ", said Mr. J. Russell, managing director, supporting an application by Russell of •Bathgate Ltd., for a B variation for 11 articulated vehicles of 110 tons to replace 11 units of 41* tons, at Edinburgh on Monday. Mr. Russell said that dock traffic from Grangemouth. handled by the Bo'ness fleet was increasing.

Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, representing J. and A. Smith of Maddiston Ltd., Road Services (Forth) and Road Services (Caledonian), who were objecting, traced the build-up since Russell acquired Ramsey Bros. with 11 old vehicles of 33 tons in 1960. There had been a gradual build-up, of vehicles and distances over the two years. All the Ramsey .vehicles were tippers,. but the character of the fleet had Changed, said Mr. Campbell Wardlaw.

Mr. Russell agreed that the vehicles were double-purpose vehicles, capable of conversion as flats or tippers. . All were capable of tipp:ng, Mr. Campbell Wardlaw contended that the grant of the application would permit the vehicles to work in with the entire Russell fleet. They could Work as collection and delivery vehicles. He also claimed that the figures did not bear out any increase in business, but that there was actually a decrease in the Bo'ness operation. The real reason was to expand the national fleet, he said.

Mr. W. F. Quin, the Scottish Licensing Authority, said: "Despite my normal

readiness to approve modernization and standardization, I do not think it would be appropriate to change if that involved a considerable increase in capacity ".

Allowing a recess, the Authority said that, in this case, he would be prepared to consider a giant of eight vehicles.

The parties agreed on seven vehicles with strictly controlled limits in terms of the original grant, Mr. Quin accepted this agreeMent and granted the seven.

At the same hearing, Russell succeeded in a contract A to A switch for two articulated vehicles on representation by Clyde Paper Mills Ltd., Rutherglen, that the company wished to end the contract.

Mr. Russell said that cargoes of bulk wood were arriving. at Grangemouth in 1,000-ton loads as against 250-300-ton loads, ftillowing a changeof Clyde's buying policy. This involved concentrated effort by the Bathgate.fleet as well as the Contract vehicles which could not handle the concentrated traffic.

Mr. Campbell Wardlaw, for the objectors, contended that the applicant was merely seeking to add two A vehicles to its main fleet and that the purpose could best be served by a limited B application. The evidence actually showed a decrease in imports of bulk wood rather than an increase, he said.

Granting the transfer, Mr. Quin stated that he always made a distinction where the applicant was already an A operator, as in this case. The second question was the customer's desire to change, which had been clearly expressed here.


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