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Illegality alleged

6th September 1968
Page 34
Page 35
Page 34, 6th September 1968 — Illegality alleged
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Keywords : Law / Crime

• There were allegations of illegal working by tipping vehicles at a city construction site during a public inquiry in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Nine applications for short-term B-licences had been listed, for vehicles to work for J. J. Gallagher Ltd. on the new ATV centre which is being erected. Five were refused for non-attendance and two withdrew. Applications by D. Ricketts for one vehicle and B. C. Trench for five vehicles were taken concurrently, together with one by Mrs. C. Parker who was seeking to carry for B. C. Trench (Transport).

Mr. D. E. Skelding for the two objectors said on June 26 vehicles without the correct licences had been seen working on the site. The West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Else, pointed out that notification regarding allegations of illegal working had not been served on these three applicants. However, he had had a report from his enforcement section regarding other operators and he would welcome any additional concrete evidence.

Mr. Ricketts, of Dudley, said he had bought the vehicle six months ago and had been repairing it. There was a supporting letter from Gallagher Ltd. saying his vehicle could be employed for three months. Mr. Trench, of Handsworth, had a similarly worded letter but said the five vehicles at present on short term would also be used to haul his own bricks and hardcore which he bought and sold. He had advertised seven times in March for tippers and had had to sub-contract work.

Objecting, Mr. C. R. Fleetwood, managing director W. R. Fleetwood Ltd., said he had rarely been unable to supply Gallagher with tippers and on two occasions requested vehicles had been sent back because, said Gallagher, they had been over-ordered.

Mr. R. N. Ingram, managing director W. R. Ingram Ltd., said his objection was one of principle; it was common knowledge that many tippers working on motorways or large civil engineering contracts operated without A, B or excise licences, run on red fuel and were grossly overloaded. Mr. Else said this did not go on unchecked. His enforcement officers had investigated and prosecuted in many cases and it was only a shortage of staff that impeded this. However, he felt itinerant hauliers for this type of work were endemic and necessary.

Mr. Else said he would have to refuse the Rickett and Trench applications because the nebulous evidence of the latter had been rebutted by Mr. Fleetwood. He granted the short term to Mrs. Parker.


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