Coach Hiring Legitimate M.o.T.
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ASUBMISSION, supported by the officiating Ministry of Transport inspector, at a recent appeal hearing, that the consistent hiring of vehicles to maintain a regular service was not legitimate, has been rejected by the Minister of Transport. The Minister's opinion is that so long as a Licensing Authority is satisfied that an operator can make satisfactory arrangements to provide an authorized service, it does not matter whether the vehicles used belong to the operator or are on hire, hire-purchase or loan.
This point was made by Mr. P. E. G. Mather, on behalf of Avon Coaches, Ltd., at the hearing of their appeal against the West er n Licensing Authority's refusal to grant them a licence to operate express services between Netheravon R.A.F. camp and Preston and Leeds. The appeal was heard at Salisbury on September 25 by Mr. J. M. Glen.
Mr. Mather said that the Authority's decision was wrong. The existing services were inadequate, and his clients had proved a need.
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Messrs. E. and D. Stanfield (who appeared as objectors) had one coach going to London each week-end and another to Birmingham. They had only three vehicles, and that left them with one for other services to Manchester and Leeds for which they had stated they required three.
Messrs. Stanfield, submitted Mr. Mather, were incapable of meeting these commitments. Hiring was legitimate on odd occasions, such as to meet a sudden increase in traffic, but not if the vehicle was to be used regularly. On that basis, he submitted, anyone could get licences and operate services by hired vehicles.
It was found that the existing, services were adequate, and the appeal was dismissed with costs.