TIC demands proof of cash
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A Worcestershire haulier, whose business has virtually collapsed, has been given 14 days to prove he has sufficient finance to operate a specialised drawbar rig for hauling boats. Terence and Michael Wright, trading as TO Wright & Sons, who held a licence for five vehicles and two trailers based at Hallow, had been called before West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon because of concern over their maintenance record. Terence Wright, who has held an 0licence since the inception of 0-licensing in 1977, said: "We lost everything last year and I have reduced everything down to just one vehicle for myself: Vehicle examiner Glyn Smith said that since January 1996 three immediate and three delayed prohibitions had been issued to the firm's vehicles.
Wright said that since August he had made all the drivers redundant as the factories they had worked for had all closed down, losing him a lot of money. "I tried to keep going to keep my two sons and two drivers in work, but I failed miserably," he added. "Money was short and things were not done that should have been."
Asked about a conviction for VED evasion in May 2000, Wright said that money from a customer had not been transferred into the company's bank account as it should have been and as a result the cheque in payment of the tax was not honoured. He was unable to produce financial evidence as his wife had put it in store during a house move.
Indicating that he required evidence that Wright had £2,500 available, the TC warned that would rise to £5,400 in October. He said if he was satisfied on finance he would curtail the licence to one vehicle and one trailer. Otherwise, he would have to revoke the licence.