User Changed : No Extra A Licence
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AN appeal against a decision by the Northern Licensing Authority is being considered by Claude Hughes and Co. (Carlisle), Ltd. In a reserved judgment, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon has rejected their application for an additional vehicle and container on A licence, mainly for the carriage of sheep between Scotland and Lancashire (The Commercial Motor, July 19).
When Mr. Claude Hughes gave evidence of his increased business in sheep haulage since the decontrol of fatstock transport, railway witnesses produced figures showing "alarming decreases" in sheep carried by rail in Cumberland and Westmorland.
In his judgment, Mr. Hanlon recalled previous applications by the concern to add to their fleet in June and November, 1954. On the last occasion it was stated that the Fatstock Marketing Corporation were the main customers.
The present application showed an entirely .different picture, at the applicants said they were not now interested in work for the corporation because they had not time to do it. Figures had also been put in to show that, far from
having a normal scope of 25-75 percent. general goods and livestock, the applicants were now fully engaged on livestock, almost entirely on the carriage of sheep and lambs in three-tier vehicles.
The change had resulted in greater carrying capacity for livestock, whilst long-distance haulage had naturally increased revenue.
"The only evidence • of any inconvenience is that there are occasions when sheep have to be left overnight," he said. "This occurs at various markets where there is coverage, but it has been established for many years that this is no ground for granting an Increase in vehicles.
"I am not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to justify a further vehicle with a carrying capacity of over 300 sheep. The railways . . are as suitable as they were from 1939 to 1955, during which time they well and truly served the needs of the public. During that period, very large quantities of livestock were carried by rail quite satisfactorily and I have no doubt they could continue to give that service.".