AN application by a Stoke-on-Trent haulage firm for a 14-vehicle
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B-to-A switch was refused last week by the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Else, at Hanley. Mr. A. Coines, for the applicant, W. Smith (Cobridge) Ltd., said the A licence was wanted in order to carry materials to various parts of the country and bring back other loads.
The need had been brought about by a change in the trend of business which was directing the company's operations more and more to that of a public carrier.
The application was mainly to carry salt over an unrestricted radius. At present the company had vehicles travelling to certain areas and returning empty, which was wasteful and inconvenient to the public.
Replying to the LA, Mr. F. A. Grantham, of the Supreme Salt Co. Ltd., said they formerly used British Railways for the southwest area, but there had been delays and they now preferred road transport.
The LA said that Smith had had a substantial number of B licences for many years and it might be that the conditions required some amendment. But the mere fact that a man was a haulier did not mean that he could insist on an A licence as a right.
In refusing the application, Mr. Else said that the applicant would be well advised to apply for a regrouping of his vehicles on a B licence and an appropriate variation in conditions.