Adjourned inquiry 'wastes money'
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• A haulier, who got a public inquiry into his licence bid adjourned after demanding to question an absent traffic examiner, has been slammed by the LA for wasting public money.
Alan Brooks, trading as Eastern European Transport of Wennington, Essex, withdrew his 0-licence application at a public inquiry last week. LA Ronald Ashford said the company had put the public to con
siderable expense by its actions.
Brooks had admitted at the first hearing in May that he had been involved in two failed companies, paying excise penalties for seven trucks caught using red diesel and using untaxed vehicles. He admitted using the same base as his brothers, Albert and Robert Brooks, whose licences were revoked in April, but denied being involved in their businesses. When the LA had referred to a meeting between Brooks and a traffic examiner, Brooks had said he wanted the inquiry to be adjourned for the examiner to be present.
When the inquiry resumed last week, the LA said he proposed to hear evidence from the examiner and some policemen, but a representative for the company said the application would be withdrawn.