Barrie Gets• 25 B-to-A Switch
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JOHN flAkRLE 'LTD., of Glasgow, J operating 94 vehicles, was granted a switch of 25 of these---the only remaining B-licensed vehicles in the fleet -to A licence, at Glasgow on Monday. Mr. James Barrie, managing director, stated that over the years his firm had acquired old-established, horse-drawn haulage firms receiving B licences on these businesses. That had been regarded apparently as the proper licence where horses were ithdrawn. Now there was substantial pressure on the fleet, said Mr. Barrie, complicated by inflexibility arising from one section on B and the great majority of vehicles on A licence. A great deal of transfer of goods was dictated by this position 'The Proper Course' British Railways opposed, contending that only five of the 25 vehicles on B licence had a 25-mile radius. Most were operating at considerably less distances and the application seemed to be aimed at convenience of the applicants rather than their customers, they contended. The proper course would have been application for new A licences.
Mr. W. Quin, the Scottish Licensing Authority, said it was significant that there were no road objectors, It was difficult to see how railway interests were involved in such an application as this, he said. Operators were entitled to modernize fleets periodically provided they were not injuring competitors, including British Railways. Granting the application, on surrender of existing B licence with a normal user of "general goods within 25 miles of operating centre ", Mr. Quin said that operational difficulties of the company justified the grant. British Railways had shown no injury.