Scottish low-loader granted
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• Emlin Plant, of Stirling, was granted a new B Licence for one artic low-loader conditioned to carry contractors' plant within a 30-mile radius of base on Friday. The hearing was in Edinburgh, with the deputy LA Mr. L. A. Wells, presiding.
Mr Charles Mauchline, partner in the firm, said the firm had carried On business as plant hirers for some 18 years, its former name having been Forth Construction Co. Ltd.
It had some 30 machines for hire and had owned and operated a C-licensed low-loader for a number of years to handle its own movements. This loader could be idle for perhaps 10-12 hours each week. This had been so for some considerable time. In the circumstances the firm sought to have the licence operation converted to B to cope with the requests it had received on many occasions from local contractors who required movement of heavy plant.
The firm had had discussions with these possible users and had fixed on a 30-mile radius as suiting their needs. Nearest point at the moment for hiring a low-loader was Glasgow or Edinburgh, Mr Mauchline said. There were no such units available for hire in Stirling or adjoining areas.
Supporting evidence was given by a number of local plant hire firms and operators. They confirmed that there were no low-loader facilities in their area and that hiring from Glasgow or Edinburgh involved them in wasteful time and cost. The cost of travelling time from such a source to Stirling could be in excess of the working cost when on the site. There was a definite need for low-loader service in the Stirling area.
The National Freight Corporation withdrew its objection before the hearing and the remaining objectors, W. H. Malcolm Ltd. of Paisley, and Wilson Bros. (Haulage) Ltd., of Johnstone, did not appear.