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Another blow for livestock firm
Page 19
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A Hereford livestock haulier devastated by the foot-and-mouth epidemic has had his licence suspended for a week.
John Heath, who holds a licence for two vehicles, had been called before West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon following the issue of four prohibition notices to his vehicles in less than a year.
Vehicle examiner Alan Howells said that inspection periods had varied between 10 days and 11 weeks. Inspection records were not always fully completed and the driven defect reporting system had fallen into disuse. He was particularly concerned about a prohibition for tyres below the legal tread limit.
Heath told Dixon that he now had a forward planner in use and a current inspection would show the vehicles to be as new. He added that foot and mouth had virtually destroyed his business; he had laid off his driver, leaving only himself. He was still carrying livestock but business had fallen drastically.
"I have lost 24 customers who were taken out by foot and mouth completely," he added. "It has given me time to look at things and get the vehicles up to scratch, They never moved a wheel for six weeks." The vehicle prohibited for the tyres had been booked in to have them changed, said Heath. It was prohibited on the Thursday but was not going to be used until the following Monday morning.
Undertaking to have his vehicles inspected every four weeks and not to allow defective vehicles on the road, Heath told the TC: "I have learnt my lesson in coming here. The fact I am here sting in front of you does not please me at all," Suspending the licence, the TC concluded that if Heath was going to keep his licence he needed to keep to the rules in the interests of road safety.