Suspended for two weeks
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A fencing contractor from South Wales had his licence suspended for two weeks and its authorisation cut from two vehicles to one after Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon heard about maintenance problems and convictions.
At a public inquiry in October 2000, the Vehicle Inspectorate was asked to carry out another fleet check on E&M Fencing, of Hengoed, after its owner Ken Davies was unable to attend and sent his contract manager instead.
'1 had an important job in Cheltenham on that day," Davies told the reconvened public inquiry in Abergavenny.
Vehicle examiner Ian Ward said that he had visited the firm's maintenance contractor and he was shown some records. He was led to believe that Davies had the rest of the records with him.
it transpired that the only records available were the ones I saw," Ward reported, and he concluded that the records were inadequate.
When he inspected the firm's vehicle he issued a prohi
bition, showing a significant maintenance failure for an oil leak which he considered to be long standing.
Davies said he had since got rid of that vehicle and was now leasing a new one from TLS Vehicle Rental in Cardiff which carried out his maintenance every six weeks.
He rejected a claim that he had failed to follow steps suggested by the vehicle examiner or the previous occasion, saying: '1 tried to follow his advice last time."
The TC said that Davies has shown himself as "incapable of maintaining vehicles", concluding: "I have decided to let you keep your licence, but in order to bring home the serious view I take, your licence will be suspended from16-29 April."