Strong Opposition to Single Vehicle on A Licence
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AFTER hearing how a Seaford (Sussex) operator had to use a 1,250-cu.-ft. furniture pantechnicon to collect and deliver a box of pills, the South Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. C. Shepherd, at Brighton last week, granted an additional A vehicle to The Old House (Seaford), Ltd., despite determined opposition from two independent furniture hauliers as well as British Railways, B.R.S. (Parcels) and B.R.S. (Pickfords), Ltd.
For the applicants, Mr. A. W. Balne said that his clients had one vehicle on A licence which could carry furniture and effects "any distance," but they were burdened with a "little clutter" of vehicles on B licence which had varying conditions. The application was designed to assist the vehicles already licensed.
The vehicle in question, he continued, was a "tiny van," but, from the force of objections, it might well be an 8-wheeler.
Giving evidence, Mr. R. 0. S. Barratt, managing director of the applicant company, said that by far the largest part of the business was the removal of personal effects, which included school trunks from the many schools in the area. They were removers and storers, and dealt with the carriage of antiques which required
specialized treatment. He was the only operative haulier in Seaford and could only meet demands with difficulty.
It was his intention, he said, when the B licence came up for renewal, to have some equality so far as the conditions were concerned. Each of the five vehicles had to be treated differently and it was "very difficult" to keep within the law. If the application was granted he proposed to delete an estate car, licensed to carry school meals, from the licence.
Miss E. Havers, for two objectors, submitted that there was no case to answer, but the Deputy L.A. wished to hear the objectors' case and five witnesses were called, most of whom spoke of vehici.:: availability in the area.
Mr. J. M. Timmons. on behalf of the B.T.C., said so far as furniture was concerned, nothing should be granted that was "long distance." A licence could only be granted if there was considerable amendment to the normal user.
Replying, Mr. Balne—who referred to letters of inconvenience which had been produced—submitted that an Authority was entitled to lean against objectors. even if they had vehicle availability, in the face of such inconvenience.
The application was granted.