No Queues of Lorries Mr. Hanlon
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" L AM not going to have a queue of vehicles standing outside ready to cut each other's throats for the sake of getting a load. Once you get a taxi rank competing for work, then you get cut rates and people who are prepared to do all sorts of things—backhanders and so on—and vehicles are not maintained properly. It is not fair on the haulage industry or the public."
This statement was madeby Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, at Carlisle, last week, when Robert Liddle, Ltd., Carlisle, applied to add 12 vehicles to their B licence, and to extend the radius within which they could carry plant and building materials to 60 miles.
The company wished to meet the needs of contractors engaged upon three Government projects—the nuclear power station at Chapel Cross, Annan, the rocket-motor testing establishment at Spadeadam, Gilsland, and the Ministry of Supply depot at Eastriggs.
Mr. Hanlon said that he wanted a picture of the work involved, so that he could make a sufficient grant without creating excess facilities.
The objectors were Messrs. J. A. Pickthall and Son, Messrs. J. and H. Doloughan, both of Cleator Moor, Messrs. J. and J. Roper, Workington. and Messrs. P. Greggains, Maryport.
Mr. Philip Kershaw, for the applicants, said that none of the objectors was engaged in his client's class of work and none was from the Carlisle district. Mr. T. H. Campbell-Wardlaw, for the objectors, said that a 60-mile radius would allow the applicants to work in West Cumberland, where there was a surplus of suitable vehicles since construction at Calder Hall and Sellafield had ceased.
Mr. Hanlon remarked: "It is not fair that the little men, getting their bread and butter from local building work. should have a sudden flood of modern tipping vehicles put on them."
The Authority granted the extra vehicles but subjected them to a 35-mile radius, also excluding them from general work in West Cumberland. This decision was subject to a review of work at Annan, Eastriggs and Gilsland when the licences expired.