'Choose which vehicles you will lose'
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• Following a Section 178 inquiry in Leeds on Tuesday, the Yorkshire LA, Maj. Gen. Sir John Potter, told Mr. R. Jarrett, manager of Ron Jarrett Ltd., a Leeds scrap metal merchant, that he could choose the two vehicles to be suspended from his C licence for one month.
Mr. R. Yorke, for Jarrett, said that the company did not dispute the GV9s which had been issued after a fleet inspection in November 1968. Of the fleet of eight, four vehicles and two trailers had received immediate prohibitions.
After a warning which had been given in April 1967, said Mr. Yorke, two fitters had been engaged for internal maintenance and more than £7,000 had been spent at outside garages. Following the fleet inspection the two fitters had been sacked and three new men were employed. Mr. S. Gould had been put in charge and it was his responsibility to see that each vehicle had a daily check before beginning work.
A drivers' report book, to record damage to vehicles, had been started and the entire fleet had been placed under contract to the FTA for quarterly and annual inspection. Mr. Yorke pointed out that all these improvements had been carried out before the company was called to the inquiry.
Sir John remarked that action had been taken after the fleet inspection but by then an inquiry seemed likely. Mr. Jarrett said that he was absolutely shattered by the results of the inspection and admitted that the state of the vehicles was appalling.
The LA said that he had taken note of the company's action towards maintenance but could not forget the condition of the vehicles. He said that it was regrettable that action had not been taken after the warning letter.