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TC grants interim authority with "great displeasure

17th August 2006, Page 33
17th August 2006
Page 33
Page 33, 17th August 2006 — TC grants interim authority with "great displeasure
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An operator that continued to haul unauthorised Irish trailers following a previous warning is waiting to find out its fate. Mike Jewell reports.

A PRESTON haulier has admitted operating trailers from Northern Ireland since 2002 without licence authority. Despite being warned about this four years ago, the company claimed it was "under the impression" it did not need authority to pull other people's trailers.

Now Stephen Slater. trading as Stephen John Slater Haulage, must wait to learn what action will be taken against his licence for five vehicles and one trailer—North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell has adjourned the proceedings until mid-September. She is also considering an application for an eightvehicle/eight-trailer licence in the name of Si Slater Ltd; this would enable the new company to take over the business.

Bell granted Stephen John Slater Haulage interim authority to continue with live vehicles and five trailers hut said she did so with "great displeasure" as she took an "extremely dim view" of operating without authority.

Slater told the TC that the business had been traction only to and from Heysham but he was now planning to have his own trailers because of maintenance problems with Irish trailers. They no longer worked for one operator because of the poor state of its trailers.

After Slater admitted that five trailers were currently being hauled, the TC pointed out that in 2002 Deputy TC Patrick Mulvenna had warned him that he needed authority to operate trailers. Slaters wife, Michelle, the company secretary said she was under the impression they did not need authority to pull other people's equipment.

Appearing for Slater, Michael Cunningham admitted that Si Slater Ltd had been trading since 2004, adding that when interviewed about an overloading offence in January Slater had been told he needed to make a fresh licence application for the new company. This was submitted in February.

Dishonesty denied Cunningham conceded that Si Slater Ltd had operated when it should not have done so but added that this was not for any dishonest reason. Slater had simply been unaware that he was obliged to inform the Traffic Area Office of its operation.

Cunningham suggested Slater's maintenance record (one immediate and one delayed prohibition in five years) was very good, bearing in mind the nature of the trailers. Slater and his drivers had tried to ensure that foreign trailers were fit for the road before they left the dock.

The TC remarked that many trailers coming into the Port of Heysham from Northern Ireland were in an unroadworthy condition, showing that Northern Ireland needed effective enforcement similar to that in England. Scotland and Wales. •


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