K erosene puts I cOlVINIEN T
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PRESSURE ON
licence at risk TO REGROUP by Michael Jewell • A Liverpool skip hire operator which was caught using kerosene in its vehicles is waiting to see if it will keep its Operator's Licence pending a report from Customs & Excise.
Kirkby-based 1st Choice Skip Hire appeared before North Western Traffic Commissioner Keith Waterworth at a Trafford disciplinary inquiry. The TC had information that Customs is taking action over the misuse of kerosene in the company's vehicles; that director Alan McCullough had made a full admission; and that the company would be asked to pay arrears of duty.
McCullough said he did not know if there was to be a prosecution; Waterworth told him that he would defer consideration of the company's fitness to hold a licence pending the results of the Customs inquiry. Vehicle examiner Peter Turner said that over the past five years 13 immediate and 10 delayed prohibitions had been imposed on 1st Choice's vehicles. The company had appeared at previous public inquiries in 1995 and 1997 and had been sent two warning letters over its maintenance standards.
Waterworth commented that this was an appalling maintenance record and the company was getting towards the end of its rope. It was a lamentable and pathetic attempt at preventative maintenance.
The company wanted the benefit of an 0-licence but none of the responsibility, said the TC, and that was unacceptable.
Reducing its licence authorisation from six to three vehicles as an interim measure, Waterworth warned that the future for the company could be very black.