F-licence allegations
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AN ANONYMOUS allegation that five lorries licensed at the concessionary farmers goods rate ("F-licence") were being used Illegally in the country for hire or reward has been investigated by the Shropshire branch of the National Farmers Union.
In a statement, the branch said that only one of the vehicles had proved to be owned by a union member and that this vehicle was being used perfectly properly and within the terms of the licence.
The statement said the anonymous letter writer had threatened to report all five lorry owners to the Road Haulage Association and to the Licensing Authority.
County NFU secretary Sam Badger said: "Normally, we treat anonymous letters with the contempt they deserve, but this man made very serious allegations about specific vehicles and their owners. All the owners have now been seen by my group secretaries and made aware of his threat.
"If we are to keep this very valuable concessionary rate of vehicle tax, we must show the authorities that we will not condone abuse of the privilege.
"Any odd individuals who choose to ignore the law cannot be allowed to prejudice very important benefits achieved by the NFU and enjoyed by so many of our members.
"We are, therefore, in this instance, passing the anonymous letter to the LA ourselves."