Third Bid for Pole Vehicle . Fails
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A FTER two hearings by the Northern I-1 Licensing Authority and an appeal to the Transport Tribunal, Siddle C. Cook, Ltd., Consett, Co. Durham, have failed to get a pole vehicle added to (heir A licence_ The Authority, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, first refused the company's application last year and an appeal was heard in March (The Commercial Motor, March 15). The result was a re-hearing before Mr. Hanlon On May 13.
Cook's applied for the vehicle to carry iron or steel loads of exceptional length. Explaining his decision, Mr. Hanlon said the most important feature of the case was that there was no witness from the Consett Iron Co., and their requirements were the principal concern of the inquiry.
• "They have a transport manager and. as I have said before, the Consett Iron Co. have assured me that they would have notified me immediately if there had been any shortage of road transport facilities to meet their requirements.
"There is no such shortage, and I am well aware that the facilities licensed or available in this traffic area are adequate to meet all present requirements."
Mr. Hanlon also drew attention to the withdrawal, or disappearance, of a pole vehicle belonging to Septimus Cook, haulage contractor, the applicant's brother. The applicant claimed that this vehicle had been available to him, but it appeared from the evidence that no traffic had been sub-contracted to Septimus Cook since April, 1956, and he had not been called to give evidence.
There was evidence that Septimus Cook had, in fact, been working 90 per cent. for the Consett Iron Co_
"I am not satisfied that the disappearance or deletion from the licence of Septimus Cook of any vehicle 'or vehicles justifies the grant of an additional pole vehicle to Siddle C. Cook, Ltd.." Mr. Hanlon added.
"HITCH-HIKER" MENACE
" HITCH-HIKERS " who thumbed lifts were a growing menace to road safety, said CI1r. C. J. Andrew last week, after Wednesbury Road Safety Committee adopted a motion aimed at discouraging the practice.