Suspicion goes on record
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• The authenticity of inspection records produced by a Leeds opera tor was challenged by a DOT vehicle examiner during a Leeds disciplinary hearing.
Christopher Balmforth, who holds a licence authorising the operation of one vehicle, had been called before North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Brian Horner.
DOT vehicle examiner Mark Millard said that he had examined Balmforth's one vehicle in February, issuing it with an immediate prohibition. He doubted the authenticity of a number of the inspection records produced, saying that they were all made out in the same handwriting and the defects listed were virtually identical in every case.
Millard said that Balmforth had been sent a warning letter following an unsatisfactory maintenance investigation in 1993 and there appeared to have been little improvement since. Margaret Balmforth said her husband was unable to attend due to an ear infection. The con tractor undertaking the maintenance had been changed since the vehicle examiner's visit.
Maintaining that the inspection records were genuine, she said that they were in the same handwriting because they had been made out by the same person. Conceding that there had been criticism of the maintenance records in 1993, she said that she would personally look after the records in the future as her husband had other things to do.
Taking no action other than to issue a warning. Horner said that he could not go on giving warnings. He could not tolerate any more slackness and if Balmforth was called to public inquiry again his licence would be in serious jeopardy