New tests needed for ageing trucks
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• Newport, Gwent-based C H Fell received a serious warning from South Wales Deputy Licensing Authority Alan Boourlet at a Cardiff public inquiry. But the company's licence was renewed for two years by the DLA.
The firm wanted renewal with an increase from three vehicles and three trailers to six vehicles and three trailers.
The warning by the DLA followed his concern about
prohibition notices imposed on the firm's vehicles; a change of operating centre without notifying the authorities and the unauthorised use of a vehicle.
Partner Clive Fell said the firm changed its fitter and accepted that a prohibition for a serious tyre defect had been a maintenance error. He admitted the company was aware of the defect the day before the prohibition and that the vehicle should not have been used.
As far as the declared operating centre was concerned, the previous centre at Woodvale Forge had been sold for redevelop
ment. The firm moved to a temporary site, but it was accepted that it should have notified the Traffic Area. This failure was not deliberate, said Fell.
For the firm, Paul Carless said it had a trouble-free record: this was the first time the firm had appeared at a public inquiry.
Boourlet granted the renewal but said he was concerned that the vehicles in the fleet were fairly old and he asked for new annual tests as quickly as possible.