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No transport manager but firm escapes revocation

24th May 2007, Page 33
24th May 2007
Page 33
Page 33, 24th May 2007 — No transport manager but firm escapes revocation
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The racehorse carrier paid a monthly fee to specialist provider

Transconsult... which didn't deliver. Mike Jewell reports.

A RACEHORSE TRANSPORTER, who admitted he did not know who his CPC holder was, has escaped with a warning after a Traffic Commissioner concluded he had been "badly let down" by a firm that offered to provide a transport manager.

William Wanless, trading as Richmond Racehorse Transport, had been called before North-Eastern TC Tom Macartney at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry. Wanless holds a twovehicle international licence and had relied upon Transconsult, run by Alec Hayden, to provide transport manager facilities.

The TC said it appearedTransconsult had been taking Wanless's money for two and a half years without doing anything. Vehicle examiner Keith Gillingan said that in September, one vehicle had been given an immediate prohibition at annual test, due to an insecure brake air reservoir that was likely to become detached.

Gillingan returned to the premises in November and was told Wanless was away on business. No vehicles or maintenance records were made available for examination, so he telephoned Wanless and asked him who his CPC holder was. Wanless said he was unsure, adding that he paid a monthly fee to Transconsult who provided that facility for him.

The transport manager listed at the Traffic Area Office was Clifford Hopkins of Hexh am. Northumberland. Wanless said Hopkins had been the transport manager until August 2005, hut he now paidTransconsult instead.The CPC holder had no direct contact with Wanless.

For Wan less, David Basey said Transconsult was initially employed when the business was set up in 2000 and had been paid a monthly fee until March 2007 to provide transport manager facilities. However, a CPC holder had not been provided by Transconsult since August 2005. Transconsult claimed it had not been paid by Wanless and consequently, had not paid Hopkins, but Wanless's accountants had provided evidence that Transconsult had received the money.

For the future. Alec Hayden said he would manage the business and be the CPC holder for Wanless. Wanless added that, following the issue of the prohibition, he had changed his maintenance contractor. After Hopkins had left, he had telephoned Transconsult on many occasions to be told it would sort things out. He had since stopped paying the company.

In reply to the T(7. Wanless said the vehicles had last had MoT tests i n August and September. The TC had considered suspending the licence until the two vehicles had passed fresh MoT tests. However, he had been told it took six to eight weeks to get a test appointment, and this was Wanless's busiest period of the year, due to the start of the flat-racing season and bloodstock sales.

The TC warned that he expected both vehicles to pass their next annual tests first time, otherwise he would consider revoking the licence. •


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