Rescue attempt for Poulter
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• In an attempt to keep in being the Charles Poulter Ltd haulage company which had its operator's licence refused by the Metropolitan LA and the Transport Tribunal, a new 0-licence application has been lodged naming a new board of directors. Mr Ronald Davis has resigned from the board. The application is for 82 vehicles and 69 trailers, with 18 vehicles and 25 trailers to he acquired over the next five yaars.
The company's appeal to the High Court against the Tribunal's decision, which was withdrawn on Friday because it had not been properly lodged, will not now be proceeded with. Mr Ronald Davis told CMon Wednesday that he hoped an interim licence would be granted to keep the business going. The employees were being paid for a guaranteed 50-hour week negotiated with the TGWU.
Accompanying the new 0-licence application to the Metropolitan LA was the following letter, dated July 4 and signed by the company secretary:—
"We enclose an application for an operator's licence, forms GV79, GV77 and GV78.
"Having in mind the decision of the LA on a previous application, which decision was confirmed by the Transport Tribunal, a meeting of the company has been held at which Mr Ronald Davis resigned as director and the following were appointed as directors: Mr Walter Frank Lambert, of Whitton. Middx, a retired insurance claims manager. He was the claims manager for Cornhill Insurance Co. for Great Britain, France and Canada: Mr Raymond Gordon Imhoff, of New Malden, Surrey, a chartered automobile and mechanical engineer: Mr Percival William Eldridge Edwards, Buckhurst Hill. Essex, Transport manager: Miss Murphy remains as director and secretary.
"Mr Lambert will be managing director and majority shareholder. Mr Imhoff will assume complete control of the engineering side of the business which will include all aspects of maintenance, vehicle servicing, driver training, etc. Mr Edwards will control all other aspects of the business, including drivers' hours and records. "We think that Messrs Imhoff and Edwards are known to the LA and that their probity cannot be questioned. Mr R6nald Davis will have no executive responsibilities.
"We trust that this application will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible but we would ask the LA to grant an interim licence so that the business can be maintained until such time as a decision is reached on the application. The previous interim licence granted to the company expired on June 30 and the vehicles have now ceased operating but drivers and fitters have not been discharged and are ready to resume work. If an interim licence is not granted but at a later date a favourable decision is given to our application, the re-engagement of drivers and fitters will be made so much more difficult."
Mr Imhoff, was chief mechanical engineer with the Metropolitan and the South Wales areas before taking up a post at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport. Mr Edwards has an executive position with Merchandise Transport Ltd, London.
Having considered the new application, the Metropolitan LA, Mr D. I. R. Muir, this week informed the company that more information would have to be made available before any decision could be given.