Bad day for small operators at Birmingham
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Several operators with licences authorizing small numbers of vehicles suffered curtailment, suspension or revocation when their cases were heard under Section 69 before the West Midland LA this week.
The first case concerned R. D. and M. A. Burton who had a licence authorizing two vehicles with one in possession. When a vehicle examiner, Mr D. B. Pryor, visited the premises at Ditton Prior in May he found that although the facilities were adequate there were no records showing that routine maintenance had been carried out. An inspection of the one vehicle resulted in an immediate GV9 being issued.
Mr R. D. Burton, a director of the company, said he was also director of an associate company which had six vehicles , and 12 trailers. The one vehicle on the licence in question only covered about 600 miles each year and was used for farm work. Mr V. Else, the LA, decided to remove the margin of one vehicle.
Mr E. A. R. Hodgkins, of Stafford, was the next operator to appear. His licence authorized one vehicle and it was said in evidence that an immediate GV9 placed on the vehicle in June last year had not yet been cleared. The vehicle was inspected recently and appeared to be in a derelict condition. The licence was revoked. The licence of Mr T. B. Robins was curtailed by the removal of a margin of one vehicle and two trailers, while the remaining vehicle and two trailers in possession were suspended for one month. This penalty was the result of an immediate GV9 on the vehicle and a delayed GV9 on one of the trailers after both had been found to have faulty brakes. A vehicle examiner said that there was a small selection of hand tools at the depot in Birmingham but it was understood that all repairs were to be carried out by a garage.
Mr K. L. Shufflebotham, of Stone, had his licence for one vehicle revoked completely after making three unsuccessful attempts to have an immediate GV9 cleared. Mr D. Flather, a vehicle examiner, said that at the time of his visit there were no records or satisfactory facilities. An ex-lorry driver, Mr Shuffiebotham said he felt he was better off out of the haulage business because he was unable to make sufficient money.
D. Gough (Steels) Ltd, of Cannock, had its licence for one vehicle and one trailer suspended for two months, again as a result of a lack of records and maintenance, while the licence of W. W. Pritchard, of Cannock, for one vehicle, was suspended for one month for similar infringements.