'Successor' is refused 0-lic
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• Easthelm, the company formed by the 26-year-old former managing director of Jacksons Transport (Dereham) Ltd, which collapsed with massive debts, has failed in its bid for a new international licence for 18 vehicles and 19 trailers (CM, June 21).
In refusing the application, Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority Charles ArnoldBaker said Easthelm could be considered as the successor to Jacksons Transport which is being wound up. Most of Jacksons vehicles appeared to have passed into Easthelm's possession.
By 1983 Jacksons Transport was 251,000 in debt, 12 months' VAT was owed and only half the PAYE liability was paid off in that year.
Although the company was said to have made a profit from 1983 to 1985, Jacksons Transport was unable to meet its liabilities.
There were 31 convictions against that company and its drivers for overloading, drivers' hours and tachograph offences and for operating vehicles without excise licences.
Of 15 vehicles at the operating centre on March 15, four belonged to Easthelm and 11 to the old company; 11 had no excise licences. Stephen Jackson, the company's managing director, had said he thought that Easthelm's turnover was around 2500,000. That was improbable for only four vehicles and Jackson had admitted that unlicensed vehicles were operated.
There were numerous county court judgments and warrants for unpaid fines, said Arnold-Baker, and he had formed the impression that the old company was using every subterfuge to avoid its civil and criminal liabilities.
It seemed that a debt was not really considered to be a debt until action was taken for its recovery.
Jacksons Transport appeared to have no responsibility towards its creditors.
On October 23, 1985, all the shares in Jacksons Transport were transferred to Park Royal Associates. According to Stephen Jackson, the vehicles were not included in the sale.
Vehicles were registered in the name of Jacksons Transport a week after the winding up order was issued and it was possible that Easthelm vehicles formed part of the assets in the liquidation of the old company_ He was not satisfield about the financial standing of Easthelm nor of its repute.