Bad depot to go
Page 24
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A NEW depot for William Stonier and Sons Ltd should replace the Potteries company's present inadequate premises by Christmas.
West Midlands Traffic Commissioners chairman Arthur Crabtree heard this last week when Stonier and associated companies Berresfords Motors Ltd and Byrne Bros (Leek) Ltd appeared at continued disciplinary proceedings (CM September 6)
Vehicle examiners told the commissioners that 21 vehicles in the Berresford fleet were spot checked. Two were given delayed suspensions. One vehicle was in bad condition, two were poor, 11 were fair, and the other seven were good.
A simultaneous visit to Stonier's revealed a pit which was immobilised by a vehicle under repair. The roof was leaking, and the floor was very wet.
Despite this, a check carried out in unpleasant conditions on six vehicles revealed that four needed suspension notices. Six advisory defect notices listing 70 defects were issued.
Group director James Berresford told the Commissioners that he accepted the Stonier premises were not adequate, and added that work was going on to build a new garage and workshop facilities on a different site.
According to Mr Berresford, the Commissioners' earlier sus pension of 22 of the group's 26 vehicles (CM December 1, 1979) deprived it of sufficient spare vehicles to carry out proper maintenance. This had imposed a heavy financial burden which had held up necessary improvements.
Between January 1979 and August 1980, 120 checks were carried out by Department of Transport staff. Out of these, only six received suspension notices. Two related to vehicles damaged by fires, and others were in respect of accident damage.
Berresford traffic manager Ernest Parke complained that passengers had been forced to change buses on the main road because a vehicle examiner wished to inspect the vehicle they were on.
But Mr Crabtree said the Commissioners were not engaged on a witch hunt. They wished to see matters put right, and the major problem appeared to be at Stoniers, and they were seriously concerned about that.
The case continues on September 19.