Further Long-steel Bid Adjourned
Page 48
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" IT is clear that at some time in the
past my clients have been operating trailers in excess of the maximum weight authorized under the licence ", Mr. P. Kenny told the Northern area Licensine Authority, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, when he was applying, at Durham, this week on behalf of R.A.H. Transporters Ltd., of Darlington, to operate four articulated vehicles with trailers exceeding 35 ft. overall in length and a fifth at a length in excess of 47 ft., as substitutes for four normal-length vehicles.
Mr. Kenny said that R.A.H. sought additional vehicles competent to undertake the carriage of the long-length steel in addition to those which it now operated. He reminded Mr. Hanlon that last year there had been inquiries entirely concerned with the carriage of longlength steel. The decision had been considered by the Transport Tribunal in April, 1963, and there had been an appeal by the objectors to the Court of Appeal. That appeal had been dismissed. R.A.H., said Mr. Kenny, was in a position to operate long-length trailers but had at times used trailers of weights in excess of the 3 tons 15 cwt. authorized.
Mr. R. A. Hunter, managing director of the company, said that the vehicles were constructed to carry indivisible loads of exceptional length. His company was thinking in terms of between 30and 70-ft. loads, but normally the loads would he about 40 ft. long.
R.A.H. had been carrying long steel since 1958, using alternative methods; but long-length trailers were the safest and quickest.
Mr. I. L. Thomas, of Dorman Long (Steel) gave supporting evidence.
After a submission of no case to answer" by Mr. I. Robey, for British Railways, which was also adopted by Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, for the road objectors, Mr. Hanlon adjourned his decision.