Highland Car Crushers’ initial appeal is rejected
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By Roger Brown
HIGHLAND CAR Crushers, which had its O-licence revoked following an incident in which one of its vehicles shed a consignment of car batteries on a busy road, has failed in its bid to get it back temporarily.
The company, based in Black Isle, Ross-shire, had lodged an appeal against the July decision of Joan Aitken, trafic commissioner (TC) for Scotland, to revoke its licence from 31 August.
Aitken took action after an incident in June 2011 on the A96 Inverness to Elgin trunk road, where a vehicle operated by Highland Car Crushers shed part of its load, including a container of batteries illed with acid.
At the public inquiry, Vosa raised concerns about vehicle maintenance at the company, compliance with dangerous goods regulations, failure to identify drivers’ hours offences and to carry out appropriate driver licence checks.
Company directors Sinclair Fraser and Hunter Fraser were also disqualiied for ive years at this time.
In a written decision, Judge Michael Brodrick backed Aitken, and concluded there would be a “signiicant risk to road safety and fair competition” if he temporarily allowed the company to operate after 31 August.
The judge warned of the consequences of giving the company authority to operate pending its full appeal hearing. “It is not necessary to wait until someone is killed or injured by a vehicle operated by the company before taking any action,” he said.