Impossible :onditions' :urtail icence
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As a result of operating in "impossible -Editions" from Rainham in Essex, Mr J. Burke had his licence for three vehicles /ailed to run for a period of one year ly after appearing at the Metropolitan ffic court under Section 69.
Mr R. Ruffle, vehicle examiner, said that Burke had obtained his licence in ;tober last year and was now operating three vehicles from a site on which a mpany, Chafen and Newman (Piling) 3, was carrying out construction work. Burke's vehicles were under contract to Eafen and Newman and also used the :fifties used by that company for its plant d machinery.
As a result of a verbal complaint ncerning the condition of the vehicles erating out of the site, Mr Ruffle said he Tected the three vehicles belonging to Mr irke. The inspection, on February 1, ;tilted in delayed GV9s being imposed on three vehicles. The main faults were oken spring leaves, loose U-bolts, and on one vehicle, an air leak.
The facilities available at the site were very bad, said Mr Ruffle, with the only covered building being a lean-to shed which at the time was full of plant and machinery. In addition there was a codsiderable amount of mud and water which made maintenance outside impossible. Mr Ruffle added that Mr Burke was very capable at carrying out repairs to the vehicles himself.
Mr Burke in his evidence said that he was under contract to Chafen and Newman and that the contract was likely to end at the end of this year. The vehicles were operating in very rough conditions which meant that they frequently had to be towed out of thick mud by bulldozers and this had caused spring breakages.
Mr Burke said that he was now having the vehicles serviced by a local garage and produced for the deputy LA, Mr W. M. Levitt, a maintenance contract as well as maintenance records for each vehicle. He added that the vehicles together had cost 1300 when he had bought them and during the last year he had spent £1100 on spares.
The LA, in curtailing the licence, said he accepted that the vehicles were being operated in impossible conditions and was prepared to accept that steps had now been taken to improve the situation.
At the same public inquiry an 0 licence was granted to D. W. Wilson (International Distribution) Ltd of Fort Street, London, E16, for four vehicles and six trailers. This company is a clearing house for the furniture company of Vono Ltd, of Tipton, Staffs, and is responsible for the operation of 110 vehicles operated by 15 haulage companies.