Special A to A Transfers : First Cases Bring Advice to Operators
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THE expiration of special A licences has resulted in applications for I transfers to public A licence in the West Midland, North Western and Western Traffic Areas. Cases heard at Manchester and Birmingham this week were unopposed, but an operator at Bristol came up against an objecfion from British Railways. Mr. W. P. James, West Midland Licensing Authority, gave some helpful advice to special A operators when he heard his first case on Tuesday. Ile said hauliers who had special A licences expiring on different dates could apply when the first expired for a public A licence to cover all vehicles.
He was hearing an application by Astbury Haulage, Bridgtown, Cannock. and said the procedure to be followed had been brought to the notice of the trade associations in the hope that operators would know what was required. Consequently, the time spent at public inquiries would be reduced.
Now that the second phase of denationalization had been reached, the information he required could be summarized as follows:—
I. From where has the vehicle been operated?
2. What is the normal user?
3. What has the vehicle been doing while in the applicant's possession? To be shown in terms of tonnage, destinations served and nature of traffic.
4. What has it earned? These figures must be certified by an accountant.
All these details were included in a circular which accompanied the application forms sent to operators.
Operators' Option The option remained with' operators whether to apply en bloc, 'but it would save time and reduce the number of public inquiries. Some 1,000 special A licences would expire during the next 12 months, and this work, in addition to normal work, would place a heavy burden upon the licensing machine.
Granting the application, which was unopposed, Mr. James said that although the figures presented showed only gross earnings for the fleet of nine vehicles, the total of £41,702 for 12 months, together with the customer evidence, satisfied him that the three special A vehicles were fully employed.
In order to put all .his fleet on the same
basis, Mr. F. C. Jackson, Bollington, applied for II vehicles to be placed on public A licence with the same normal user at Manchester on Monday.
Four of the 11 vehicles were already on public A licence, but the special A licence for the other seven expires at the end of February. Mr. Jackson wanted those seven vehicles converted to public A. There were no objections.
He told the North Western Licensing Authority, Mr. F. Williamson, that the normal user required was: "General goods, Lancashire. Cheshire, Derbyshire, Scotland, Midlands and the north-cast coast." He said that in the past he had used his fleet indiscriminately, making little difference between the two classes.
Mr. Williamson said there was adequate need for the conversion.
B.R. Objection Mystifying Opposition by British Railways was withdrawn at Bristol, last week, when R. and W. Febry, Chipping Sodbury. Glos, sought the transfer of eight special A-licence vehicles to A licence. Mr. R. Webb, for the railways, explained that their objection had been lodged because Fehry's were not a small concern—they had 94 vehicles and a trailer under various licences. However, having investigated figures and traffic, the railways did not want to pursue the objection.
Mr. T. D. Corpc. for Fehry's, said it was the first case of its kind in the Western Area. but he was at a loss to understand why there was any opposition as the vehicles required were exactly the same as those specified on the special A licence, Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, granted the application.