Bin lorries get five-day ban
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Repeated maintenance problems have led to West Wiltshire District Council being told to take all its bin lorries off the road for five days by the Western Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown.
At a Bristol public inquiry vehicle examiner Michael Townsend accused the council of "allowing operational needs to override maintenance requirements".
He said two maintenance investigations at the Trowbridge depot had both proved unsatisfactory. He had examined 10 vehicles during his most recent visit and issued three prohibition notices and a further three advisory defect notices. One vehicle had three of 10 wheelnuts loose an one axle and another loose nut on a different axle. Another vehicle had a chafed brake hose.
Townsend also highlighted shortcomings in maintenance records, saying vehicles did not always have preventative maintenance inspections on time— one was 11 weeks overdue.
A maintenance investigation in September last year revealed similar problems, and Trevor Askew, head of commercial services at the council, wrote to Brawn giving assurances that things were being put right.
For the council, Peter Woodhouse said the problems started when Askew was promoted and relocated tom the Trowbridge depot to the council headquarters. He added that the departure of several key members of staff also had an effect on the operation. The TO said: "It is quite clear that West Wiltshire District Council has not tackled the question of its maintenance systems and documentation to the required standard."
Ordering that the licence suspension take place before the end of October, the Commissioner said it would act as a warning for the council to avoid further problems.
After the hearing, the council's corporate officer, Will Godfrey, said: We have now appointed a nationally recognised transport company to manage our workshops on a day-to-day basis and this, along with greater vigilance through our management procedures, should ensure vehicle inspections and maintenance are carried out on time."