Short-term Grants Opposed
Page 61
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APPLICATIONS by Siddle C. Cook, Ltd., A. Stevens and Co. (Haulage), Ltd., and Messrs. Sunter Bros.— each for short-term A licences for three vehicles—to meet an increase in steel output on Tees-side were opposed by British Railways and British Road Services before Mr. J. A. 1'. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, at Stockton-on-Tees last week.
Mr. S. C. Cook said that he was having to refuse loads of constructional steel and could not get .help from other operators of special-type vehicles, who
were all fully employed. Figures for his 24 A-licensed vehicles had increased by £3,975 during September as compared with August, whilst those for contract-A and 13 -vehicles employed by the Consett Iron Co. were £280 down and averaged £470 per vehicle.
Questioned by Mr. J. Croft. for the objectors. he agreed that he had stated that he would surrender his contract with the Consett Iron Co. when a recent application to transfer contract-A vehicles to A licence had failed. If the present application were granted, one of these' vehicles would be available; if it were not granted, there was a danger that unsuitable vehicles might be used.
Confirming Mr. Cook's evidence, Mr. T. Sunter told Mr. Croft that he had decided to make application after learning that Cook's had done so. He denied the suggestion that within the past three weeks a Mr. Williamson, of Freeman. Volkers and Stuart, Ltd., was told that Sunter had vehicles standing idle.
Mr. P. FL Foster, a director of Stevens, said that he had had no intention Jr applying until Cook's application, and because of the steel situation he could not very well object.
There was no evidence for nine
vehicles, submitted Mr, Croft. It was extraordinary how the application of SuMer and Stevens came to be made at all, and no grant should be made until the substantive applications were heard. The objectors .would then giye evidence that there was ample capacity to meet demand.
Granting one vehicle to each applicant, Mr. Hanlon said that possible objectors had been notified on receipt of Cook's application. Supporting letters had been received from Dorman Long (Steel). -Ltd., and Vickers Armstrong& Ltd. It was well known that they were reluctant to attend public inquiries, At the substantive inquiry he would require the attendance of witnesses, particularly from Dorman Long.