'No danger to St. Albans empire' says LA
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• Deciding there was room in London for both big and small multi-bucket operators, Mr. D. I. R. Muir, the Metropolitan LA, granted a new B licence for a multi-bucket unit to R. A. Hosgood and r Sons, of Harrow. Middlesex.
Mr. R. A. Hosgood, who controls the business with his two sons, said that it was established in 1967 with a tipper and a grab loader. After about 18 months customers made inquiries for a skip-loader and so earlier this year such a unit was acquired and operated under a short-term B licence.
Mr. Hosgood said he had 22 skips and because the short-term B licence had expired he was utilizing them on his own C-licensed work.
Six customer witnesses were called to give evidence on Mr. Hosgood's behalf.
For the objector. St. Albans Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd., Mr. D. C. Shute, western district area manager of St. Albans Sand, said that his firm and its associated companies, Hughes Roberts Ltd., William Truckel Ltd. and Hales Containers Ltd., operated over 100 multi-bucket units and 1,700 skips in the London area.
He claimed the service offered was as good, if not better, than anyone else's. He thought the only reason why some of Mr. Hosgood's customer witnesses had to wait two or three days for service from St Albans Sand was because of trade fluctuations.
In giving his decision the LA said: "Mr. Hosgood has had a lot of luck in this case in so far that he was able to have a trial run with his multi-bucket unit.
-I think there is ample room for both the large company like the objectors' and the small man and I don't think Mr. Hosgood is going to offer the slightest danger to the St. Albans empire."