User Changed:. Warning on Blank Forms
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THE ever-widening radius of his regular customers' traffic had involved a change of normal user over a period and obliged Mr. L. Wooldridge, Dudley, to apply for a new A licence, Mr. N. Carless told the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. W. P. James, at Birmingham on Tuesday. British Railways objected.
Mr. Carless said the change was in distance, and not in commodities. The present user was "mainly Midlands, occasionally elsewhere." Mr. Wooldridge was now asking for "mainly within 150 miles and to Scotland," for four vehicles (151 tons).
These vehicles, with four on special A licence, worked as a fleet, and during the past 12 months welding equipment was carried to Scotland and regular loads of refractory clay on return journeys. The primary traffic, which started in September, was the clay, with the outward work secondary.
In reply to Mr. James, Mr. Wooldridge n2 said the traffic carried before the clay became regular was mainly from clearing houses. He was ill-advised by a transport consultant when applying for the original riser and might have signed the form in blank.
After hearing the evidence, Mr. R. D. Webb, for British Railways, said it appeared the clay was new traffic and their objection would be withdrawn, Mr. Carless submitted that as soon as the applicant realized the position he tried to put his house in order. The new work he was doing had not been lost by anyone else.
Granting the application, Mr. James said it must be put to the credit of Mr. Wooldridge that he had informed the Licensing Authority of his wrong-doing. Half the A-licence vehicles had been working completely outside the normal user. He was satisfied on the facts, but would require an assurance that Mr. Wooldridge would look closely at any document he signed in future.