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School coach unfit to drive to test station

11th June 1971, Page 31
11th June 1971
Page 31
Page 31, 11th June 1971 — School coach unfit to drive to test station
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• An inquiry at Edinburgh on Monday by the Scottish Traffic Commissioners heard that a coach which carried school children had an engine which "knocked" so badly it could not be driven to a testing station.

Three of the 10 psv licences of G. and J. Black, of Newton Loan Toll, Gorebridge, were revoked for at least six months by Mr A. B. Birnie, chairman of , the Commissioners.

He said: "There is overwhelming evidence before us of the state of the vehicles. Their state was found to be shocking and no matter. how quickly they were put right, it does not effect the degree of danger to which the public were put."

Mr William Fenton, a senior vehicle examiner for the DoE, said that after noticing the number of defects showing up at annual inspections he decided to investigate the firm's maintenance facilities.

These were found to be inadequate and six of the 11 coaches inspected had faults. Five were ordered off the road and one had a delayed order imposed because of mechanical faults. Two of the other coaches were being repaired and a third, which was used on school contract work to Pathead was in too bad a condition to be driven to the testing station at Livingston.

Faults discovered included faulty brakes, excessive wear on recut tyres, and a fractured housing which made the gearbox on one of the coaches insecure, said examiners.

Mr James Black, junior, said that four of the vehicles inspected had been sold and were awaiting collection when the examiners arrived. The coaches were inspected every Sunday, and he could not explain how the defects occurred.

He had reorganized maintenance and was keeping detailed records. A £.5000 service area was to be built but he had been delayed in getting planning permission because of a proposed new road nearby.

Mr Birnie said he would not consider new licence applications for six months, but if reports on the firm's vehicles and facilities were good, they could then try again.

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Locations: Edinburgh

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