Warned on maintenance
Page 22
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been warned that if their vehicle maintenance is not in order in six months' time their licence will be on the line.
The partners, of Old Hall Hammer, Whitchurch appeared before West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour at a Birmingham disciplinary inquiry.
Seymour expressed particular concern that despite a warning letter in May 1996 the pair still had problems. For the partners, Tim England said they transported hay over a radius of about 60 miles using a 17-tonne rigid and drawbar trailer.
He pointed out that the vehicle examiner's criticisms in his report mostly concerned the way their maintenance records were completed.
Seymour pointed out that the trailer had been found in use with a defective brake hose, and that Williams had admitted he was aware of the defect.
After England had said that the defect was on the secondary braking system, Seymour commented that it was still a safety related item.
England said that one of the problems was that difficult access to some of the smaller farms led to damage to the vehicle. Williams said he had written to 13 of his customers, warning that if the access was not improved the firm would not continue to deliver to them.
Most had either promised to improve the access, he added, or said they would collect the hay by tractor and trailer from a nearby layby.
He also gave a number of undertakings about the maintenance of the vehicle and trailer.
Suspending the trailer from the licence until a fresh test certificate was produced, Seymour told the Vito carry out another check in six months' time.
He accepted that the Williams' vehicle was carrying difficult loads in less-than-ideal conchdons, but stressed that he had a duty to ensure its operation did not endanger the public.