Transport manager's history Leads to a PI
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A scaffolding firm has been granted a restricted licence for two vehicles after being called to a PI due to manager's history.
LOUGHTON SCAFFOLDING Merchants of Newham. London, appeared in Eastbourne before South Eastent and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner (TC) Philip Brown. (right).
The company was represented by director David Loveday and transport manager Leslie Evans. Evans was the holder of standard 0-licences for failed operations Cody Plant and Langston Building Equipment. They shared a site with Loughton Scaffolding for whom they had provided transport services.
The Langston licence began in October 2007 with Evans as director and transport manager. Langston ceased trading in February 2009 and Loughton Scaffolding applied for an 0-licence in December 2009. Evans could not recall whether the Traffic Area Office had been notified of Langston's liquidation.
He said the two vehicles on the Langston licence were transferred to Cody Plant but could not remember when. Records showed both vehicles on the Langston licence were not removed until January 2009 although they had already transferred to the Cody licence.
Evans said that Langston failed because of a dispute over non-payment for scaffolding boards which he said were of poor quality. Cody Plant had held a standard licence for two vehicles since December 2008 but failed in September 2009.
The TC noted that the Cody licence discs had not been returned to Leeds until nine months after the firm failed. He said Evans was not authorised to sign the Loughton application. The TC added that, despite taking advice from the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Loughton had no representative at the inquiry. "Are you just piggy-backing the same vehicles to do something different? I am con cemed that you start another business venture that fails," he said.
Loveday said that Loughton had invited Evans to join them. An RHA audit of maintenance and systems was booked for 6 October. Loveday said he would get a CPC in his name; Evans held one through grandfather rights.
The TC revoked the licences for Cody Plant and Langston Building Equipment. He granted a restricted licence to Loughton with undertakings attached: • Loughton must continue to contract with the RHA for three-monthly maintenance audits and the first three, from October, must be sent to the TAO.
• Either Loveday or Evans must attend a CPC, or a CPC refresher course, by 20 September 2011.