Irish hgv licence puzzle
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• Mr John James McCrory, of Connaught Road, Preston, who drives a lorry for a ferry trailer company at Preston Dock, has hit a problem which puzzles him.
When his heavy goods driving licence expired he applied to the North-West Licensing Authority for a renewal but was told that as his licence was obtained in Northern Ireland it was not valid in this country, and the only way he could continue driving was to take a test in this country.
He appealed to Preston magistrates against the Authority's decision, but when a representative of the LA explained in court that it was purely a legal matter which precluded the licence from being directly transferred, the magistrates had no alternative but to dismiss the appeal.
Supporting Mr McCrory in cdurt was the district secretary of the AEU, Mr Bob Crook. who said: "It seems ironical that if he happened to work on a trunking service in Northern Ireland he could drive from Preston to Harwich on that licence, but if he happens to work in this country he cannot.
"It seems to me that the Act was never intended to cover this sort of situation, and he appeals to you to grant him an exemption. Otherwise it could affect his working position and possibly restrict his earning capacity."
After the appeal Mr Crook said his union would be writing to the Minister because it was "something they should look into".
An application by the LA for costs was refused by the magistrates.