Puma boss fights back
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• Brian Allison, who ran the failed Puma Transport, has been granted a licence in his own name by North Western Licensing Authority Martin Albu.
Allison, trading as BA Transport, of Didsbury, Manchester, had applied initially for a new international licence for six vehicles and trailers, but reduced his application to two vehicles and trailers at a Manchester public inquiry.
For Allison, John Backhouse said that the liquidation of Puma Transport in 1990 was caused solely by Southampton-based AE Stratton going to the wall owing Puma £27,500.
Allison lost his home as a result. However, he managed to obtain a personal loan of £5,000 and took over two vehicles from the receiver, assuming financial liability for those vehicles. He was unable to obtain backing from the bank but obtained some assistance from his father. Allison had wanted to operate three vehicles, but appreciated that he could not afford to operate more than the one vehicle he now owned. The two vehicles taken over from the receiver had been surrendered because of financial difficulties.
It was a question of Allison fighting for survival. He had been prosecuted for vehicle excise offences at Lewes and other offences at Ramsgate, and was in the process of paying off the fines. His financial position was not strong but he appeared to have the resources to operate one vehicle.
Allison said that he was engaged on UK work for Archbold Freightage. He had recently plated the vehicle up to 38 tonnes to increase his profit margin. Questioned by Albu, Allison said that he had bought the vehicle for £400. It had been lying in a haulier's yard in Widnes and had needed a lot of work: he had gradually brought it up to standard.
Allison agreed that when Puma went under he had carried on operating the vehicles. He said that he now realised that was an offence.