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• North Western LA Martin Albu has granted Brendan Hickey of Openshaw, Manchester a new licence for three vehicles and one trailer to the end of October.
Brendan Hickey was formed by directors of the failed Hickey Tipper Hire whose licence was surrendered. Brendan Hickey had been operating under interim authority since August 1994 and had applied for a licence for five vehicles and one trailer.
Director Ann Hickey said the financial side of Hickey Tipper Hire got out of control when she became pregnant. When she returned after maternity leave the company employed an accountant and it was found the jobs they were undertaking were not profitable—the only way out was to liquidate the company. The new company was trading profitably.
Albu pointed out that in February 1994 vehicles were stopped and found to have no excise licences or test certificates.
Ann Hickey said that she was on maternity leave at that time and the office side was not kept up to date. Nobody had time to do the paperwork. All the vehicles had been back taxed. At the time the company was running up to 18 vehicles and most were properly taxed.
When the company went into liquidation one vehicle was bought from the liquidators, she said. The vehicle was not operated for six to eight weeks then it was used on site for two months. Her husband had now broken his neck and was in plaster. The company had been about to acquire a further two vehicles but that had been side-lined.
The LA said Ann Hickey had been the responsible transport of them manager on the other licence, and he was concerned about her behaviour. She had taken the CPC exam and should have been aware of her responsibilities.
Asked about an incident in September when the company was found to be using unauthorised fuel in one of its vehicles, Ann Hickey said that it had been due to a misunderstanding. The vehicle had been on the same site for a month and the site foreman asked the driver to go out and pick up some sand.
Granting a licence until the end of October, Albu said that he was not happy about the situation. He said Ann Hickey would have to keep a close watch on the vehicles and the business and make sure the vehicles were regularly maintained. Before the licence was renewed a vehicle examiner would be round to check.