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W. Midland Penalties
AT a Section 178 inquiry in Birmingham on Monday the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Else, stated that cases had been drawn to his attention where hauliers had said they intended to introduce a system of maintenance advised in the pamphlet "Avoid GV9s ". On a first visit Ministry examiners had found evidence of the promise being kept but the next time, two or three months later, the system had been dropped and the standard of maintenance had deteriorated again.
"If you come before me and say you are going to adopt the pamphlet's recommendations you must make more than an outward show ", Mr. Else warned. "You must actually do it and stick to it."
The LA dealt with nine operators. In every case immediate GV9s had been issued on one or more of the operators' vehicles.
Great Bridge Disposal Co. Ltd., of Brierley Hill, had one of its five-vehicle C-licensed fleet suspended for two months.
Artrow Metals Co. Ltd., of Cheslyn Hay, had one vehicle removed from the company's C licence. After the vehicle examiner saw one of the vehicles that had been involved in an accident he listed 25 defects on an immediate GV9, but maintained that none of the major items was caused by th'e collision. The driver, he said, was prosecuted last month for driving under the influence of drink.
E. A. Smith (Transport) Ltd., of Wolverhampton, appeared under Section 174 of the Road Traffic Act seeking the renewal of a three-vehicle A licence, and its associated company, Parkfield Garage and Transport Co. Ltd., appeared under Section 178. Mr. Else granted Smith's application but reserved his decision on Parkfield pending an inspection of both fleets between March and June next Mr. Edward Smith said in evidence that some of his troubles were caused by slow delivery of new vehicles.
G. Inions (Transport) Ltd. had a vehicle suspended for two months. The vehicle examiner concerned said he made a fleet inspection after one of the firm's vehicles had been taken to the police station yard at Wellington where the driver left it, refusing to drive any farther. The firm was later prosecuted for the defects on this vehicle and fined £58.
Mr. Else asked the firm's managing director why no action had been taken when immediate GV9s were issued on the same vehicle in January and May this
year. How many times do you have to be knocked on the head? " he asked.
H. Loveridge and Son, of Pelsall, had one vehicle suspended for a week and warnings were given to William Jones, of Coventry, Alloy Refining Co. Ltd. and T. Harvey. both of Stoke-upon-Trent.