26-vehicle C licence Revoked
Page 26
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LLAST week a 26-vehicle C licence was revoked by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, Mr. D. I. R. Muir, because of the firm's "appalling record" of vehicle maintenance.
Bentley Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd.. Bishop's Stortford. were called to a Section 178 inquiry, but were not represented at the hearing and the case proceeded in their absence.
Mr. Muir said the company sold graded clinker, sand, hoggin and gravel, and had operated under C licence since 1960. The current licence would expire in December, 1969.
Since 1963, there had been a number of vehicle examinations. At the first check, of 18 vehicles examined, five were free of defects, five were under repair, and four immediate and four delayed prohibitions were imposed.
In October, 1963, the company was warned by letter that the LA had powers to revoke or suspend the licences of improperly maintained vehicles.
The company replied saying that a major reorganization was projected and it was hoped that improved vehicle maintenance would result. However, when an examiner visited the premises in March, 1964, he was not impressed with the facilities; there was, for example, no pit.
In July and August, 1964, 17 vehicles were examined and only two of them were without defects. Nine immediate prohibitions were imposed, and the examiner reported that the general condition of the vehicles was very poor, with a complete lack of routine maintenance.
The managing director of the company, at this time, blamed the position on drivers who failed to report defects and on staff shortages. He again expressed the hope that improvements would result from altered procedures.
In January. 1965, the LA continued, the company was convicted for overloading, and there had since been other similar convictions, one as recently as November 8, when a £70 fine was imposed after convictions for 14 charges of overloading. Having regard to the convictions and to the imposition of 24 immediate and 17 delayed notices, the licence would be revoked and any subsequent application for a new licence would be treated on its merits.