Operator to start again in small way
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James Johnson of Bradford
• SUFFICIENT TIME had elapsed for James Johnson, who lost his public service vehicle operator's licence in June 1984, to be allowed another chance to start again in a very small way, said North Eastern Commissioner Frederick Whalley, when he granted Bradfordbased Johnson a licence for a 12-seater minibus for two years, following a Weds public inquiry.
Whalley was not prepared to allow Johnson authority to also operate a 53-seater coach, but said that if the operation of the minibus proved satisfactory there was no reason why he should not be allowed larger vehicles on his licence at a later stage.
Johnson did not have a happy record, said the Commissioner, and it concerned him somewhat. He would not be prepared to consider any variation applications for at least six months.
The Commissioner said that his predecessor had refused to renew Johnson's licence in 1984, following six previous appearances before the Commissioners, commenting at the time that he had a track record of unfulfilled promises.
Evidence was given by Johnson that he had had time to reflect about where he had gone wrong. He had tried to do everything himself in the past.
Johnson said he had signed an agreement for a commercial garage to undertake the servicing and repair of the vehicles at intervals of four weeks. He had joined the Freight Transport Association and it would carry out audit inspections every 12 weeks. He was currently operating taxis, he now had office staff and his three sons were joining him in the business. He would be running the business and not working it.
Whalley said that the FTA audit system was a very good one but it could not replace Johnson's own system. It was a check on a system, that was all. On the projected figures, everything seemed alright, It was now, he said, a question of "proof of the pudding.