Cumberland Cattle Hauliers Busy
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CATTLE hauliers in Cumberland were growing busier because of the increase in the number of animals being bred in the county, said Mr. F. Milton, Northern Area secretary of the Road Haulage Association, when he represented Mr. I. Irving, of Dalston. before the Northern Licensing Authority, last week.
Mr. Irving was granted a B licence to operate an additional vehicle within a radius of 50 miles to serve the South Scotland lamb sales. Six farmer-customers attended the hearing to give supporting evidence.
Railway Trucks Idle Mr. G. Gillespie, of the Railway Executive, said that the railways frequently had 40-50 cattle trucks ready to take traffic away from Carlisle and left idle. "On the other hand," lie went on, "we are aware of cattle being left overnight at the grading centre or auction mart before the hauliers can take them away. We can supply 150 railway cattle trucks to-morrow morning at Dalston."
When Mr. G. I. Flenley, British Road Services Carlisle group traffic superintendent, said that the nearest B.R.S. livestock vehicles were 18 miles away at Penrith, the Authority said: "You don't expect farmers in Dalston to go to Penrith when they have a lorry on their doorstep?"
Mr. Flenley: "The facilities would be provided at Carlisle if requested. We did have a cattle vehicle at Carlisle and about a year ago it stood in Carlisle auction mart for three weeks and never even got one job. That was why it was withdrawn."
A supporting witness, asked why he did not use B.R.S. facilities, replied: " I do not like the idea. I would rather have a private man." Mr. T. J. Cowen, a Dalston farmer, told the Authority: "It does help to have your regular haulier who knows where to go."
In his final remarks, the Authority stated: "It is not reasonable to expect a man who has a regular haulier to have to scout round to find another. The other haulier has to oblige his own customers first and the driver may not be aware of the special local circumstances.
"I hold to the view that it is reasonable that a haulier should expand with the business of his regular customers and this is a particularly good illustration."