No grant for Taxi Trucks
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METROPOLITAN deputy Licensing Authority Mr. W. M. Levitt has, in a written decision, refused to grant licences to six owner drivers of "personnel carriers".
Applications were made on November 29 by H. D. Cartlidge for a B licence for two vehicles and by S. D. Cousins, B. T. Evans, J. Gallaher, P. George and F. 0. Gomez for one vehicle each. There were nine objectors.
Mr. Cartlidge said that he had built up his business, Taxi Trucks, during the last 17 years carrying "urgent light goods for industry and light furniture removals anywhere in England".
He had never held goods vehicle licences and had been unaware that he was contravening the law until his first conviction last year. The other applicants all operated from Mr. Cartlidge's address and were bound to place their vehicles at the disposal of Taxi Trucks and drive only for this concern.
Mr. Cartlidge could not produce schedules of his operations or a list of customers. Evidence given by others of the applicants added little to what Mr. Cartlidge had said.
Giving his decision Mr. Levitt noted that he had first to consider whether the jurisdiction to grant licences for the vehicles was his. He decided that all the vehicles specified in the application were, despite being fitted with removable seats, goods vehicles.
These, he continued, were being operated unlawfully, and in the absence of customer evidence of need, of customer lists, of schedules of operations and of certified accounts, he failed to recognize a prima facie case.