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Rates Controversy Before Tribunal

28th May 1965, Page 47
28th May 1965
Page 47
Page 47, 28th May 1965 — Rates Controversy Before Tribunal
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THE West Country quarry tipping rates controversy was echoed at the Transport Tribunal on Wednesday when

George Read (Transport) Ltd., of Longthorpe, and others, successfully appealed against a Contract A-to-A licence grant by the West Midland deputy Licensing Authority.

Mr. R. M. Yorke appeared for the appellants and Mr. J. R. Margrett, of

Hope Mansell, Nr. Ross-on-Wye, was represented by Mr. P. Kenworthy rowne.

Mr. Yorke said there were two points at issue in this substitution of a six wheeler for two four-wheelers, one of which had been little used. Was there a need for an A licence and did the respon

dent's rates prejudice other operators? He did not take seriously the penalty clause provision of the Contract licence, since minimum payments in four years amounted to a mere £100.

The validity of the figures, Mr. Yorke continued, were suspect; the certifying accountant was unqualified, and the accounts therefore needed even more careful scrutiny. Margrett, an . RHA member, was thought to be of one mind with other Forest of Dean operators in their fight for higher rates but, in fact, he was not. The deputy LA, said Mr. Yorke, had a mandatory duty to investigate the charges made, or proposed, under Section 173-6 of the Road Traffic Act.

Margrett's evidence concerning a mileage of between , fifty and sixty thousand a year, with a corresponding tyre life, implied that he was averaging 20 m.p.h. for every hour of the driver's workitig life. Also, it appeared the driver did the vehicle maintenance for an all-in hourly wage, lower, than the standard wage, he said. .

Mr. Kenworthy Browne said the desire of the quarry owners to avoid the penalty payment requirement was a per fectly proper ground for supporting the conversion application. This payment was like a "Sword of Damocles" over

their head. There were other supporting customers; and Mr. Yorke's

"wizardry with figures' might have mis fired: the mileage and tyre figures quoted probably referred to two vehicles. The RHA rates proposals, he thought, were in effect a restrictive practice; Margrett had lower overheads and made an adequate profit.


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