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144 
Haulier's wife fights to save firm
Page 20
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A Rhymney Valley haulier who had his licence sus pended following a series of maintenance defects has had it revoked with effect from 11 March.
Stephen Littlewood, trading as STL Transport, had his eight-vehicle/seven-trailer licence suspended by Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon after he failed to appear at a Barry disciplinary inquiry (CM7-13 Feb).
Vehicle examiner Robert Williams told Welsh DTC Alan Jenkins that there had been maintenance problems for the past few years. Twelve immediate and 11 delayed prohibitions had been issued to the five vehicles and four trailers being operated for problems including brakes, shock absorbers and lights.
There was also concern that further faults were found when vehicles were produced for clearance.
Of 15 initial failures at annual test (a failure rate of 68%) eight related to brake problems.
Littlewood's wife Ann said she had had to take over running the business as her husband was on remand in Swansea Prison. She had attempted to put matters in order by engaging outside maintenance contractors which she hoped would improve things.
She was trying to take responsibility but it was difficult as the business had taken "a thrashing" because of the adverse publicity.
She wanted to take on a transport manager, to apply for a licence in her own name and to have the vehicles transferred. She hoped to advertise it within the next couple of weeks. Questioned about finance, she said they had done very little work over the past three months with customers "disappearing overnight".
Revoking the licence, the DTC said he was concerned about the evidence from the vehicle examiner, and the prohibitions showed a failure of the system operated by Stephen Littlewood.
He added: 'There has been no improvement despite the previous warnings and I fear that Mrs Littlewood is closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. I am driven to the conclusion that Stephen Littlewood has lost his repute."