Special Tankers to Inject Fertilizer
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AN application by Fred Chappell, Ltd., Batley, to add to their A licence 10 special 3,000-gal. tankers equipped for injecting ammoniacal liquid fertilizers into agricultural land, attracted strong opposition from established tanker operators in the north of England at the start of a two-day hearing before the Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. H. A. Randolph, at Leeds on Tuesday.
B.R.S. (Pickfords) Ltd., British Railways, Messrs. A. S. Jones, Liverpool, Smith and Robertson (Leeds) Ltd., and Harold Wood and Sons, Ltd., objected.
Mr. Alan Goss, for the applicants, said they wanted to take the liquid directly on to farmland in Yorkshire. The work would occupy the vehicles only nine months of the year and the Fina Petroleum Co., Ltd., had agreed to employ them during . the rest of the year. The work would not interfere with the objectors in any way.
Mr. F. Chappell said a new company, Ammoniacal Liquid Fertilizers, Ltd., of which he was a director,. was formed three months ago and had contracted with the North Eastern Gas Board to take and treat their ammonia waste products. Fred Chappell, Ltd., would deliver direct to farms. Mr. W. W. Law, manager of the Lincoln Fertilizer Co., Ltd., and managing director of Nitrogen Applications, Ltd., said that his companies were concerned with the use of ammonia as a fertilizer on farms and had been operating in Lincolnshire for three years.
They had a contract with the East Midland Gas Board and expected to use up to 8m. gallons in 1957. Operations had been "so successful that they had entered into a contract with the North Eastern Gas Board with the intention of extending to farms in the East Riding.
Hired Haulage Preferred Because of a dormant period between December and February they preferred hired haulage and wanted to employ Chappell's vehicles to carry up to 7m. gallons yearly. The work required experienced drivers and a specialized fleet. Previously all the work had been done by spraying.
Questioned by Mr. P. Kenny, for the private objectors, Mr. Law pointed out that, apart from special equipment, tankers with six-wheel drive were required for this type of work, because of difficulty in fields and narrow lanes.
The hearing was adjourned.