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THE CASE

19th April 2007, Page 39
19th April 2007
Page 39
Page 39, 19th April 2007 — THE CASE
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Keywords : Huddersfield, Kirklees

Strid conditions imposed on licence

DESPITE BEING LINKED to two liquidated companies a Sheffield-based operation has been granted a new two-vehicle licence, as long it adheres to strict undertakings. If it does not, the TC warned that no mercy" would be shown.

At a Leeds public enquiry North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney was considering action against the licences held by J&J Mountain and SPS Huddersfield. together with an application for a new licence by Sheffield Packaging.

Director Ian Royles said he and his wife Lorraine had bought Sheffield Packaging three years ago.They wanted to expand into the Huddersfield area so they also bought SPS Huddersfield.They ran that company for nearly 1.8 months but found the turnover could not sustain the size of premises. They bought Dewsburybased J&J Mountain with the idea of moving it into the Huddersfield premises.

In effect they were -sold a pup-. The turnover was 50% of that stated and the wage bill was 20% higher. They had no alternative but liquidation of the failing firms. The Royles were still carrying the financial burden as they had been given personal guarantees so they had not gained financially by the liquidations.

Ian Royles admitted to using one of the two vehi cies in possession until their application for an interim licence was refused. Lorraine Royles said they had paid a large debt owed to their maintenance contractor.

After looking at a list of the companies' creditors, Macartney remarked that it seemed even the TC was owed money!

The TC revoked the licences held by J&J Mountain and SPS Huddersfield and granted a licence to Sheffield Packaging after receiving undertakings with regard to vehicle maintenance and drivers' hours and tachographs. However, he warned that if the promises given at a public inquiry were broken there would be no mercy shown.


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