Maintenance was too little too late
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• Following an inquiry called under Section 178 of the Yorkshire LA, Mr. H. E. Robson, sitting at Leeds on Tuesday, suspended two vehicles for two months from the licences of A. Waite (Coal) Ltd., of Birstall, Leeds.
Mr. Robson told the managing director, Mr. B. M. Ellis, that since he had taken over control of the company, the inspection of the fleet by the vehicle examiners showed an intention to improve the standard of maintenance; nevertheless dangerous vehicles had been operating. It was a case of doing "too little and too late"--it was too late in view of a maintenance vehicle being authorized. The LA indicated that a further fleet inspection would be made in six months' time.
The inquiry established some 18 prohibition notices, delayed or immediate, having been served in respect of vehicles on A, B and C licences since 1965. In February and March the vehicle examiner had reported the general condition of the fleet to be bad, a GV9 having been issued for every vehicle at one time or another and Mr. Ellis said the company could not afford vehicles off the road.
Mr. Ellis told the LA he took steps in January last to introduce a better system of maintenance but there was delay in starting. Asked why the old system worked so badly, having regard to the maintenance vehicle authorized-he said they "fell down" because the inspection system was inadequate. On Mr. Robson remarking that some of the trouble may have resulted from the vehicles being too old, Mr. Ellis said four new vehicles would be in service. this year and two next year.
For the company Mr. P. Kenny said that of the prohibitions since 1965, 14 referred to February and March this year, following examination of the entire fleet. Before the examinations Mr. Ellis had, in January, been in touch with Eine and Shell-Mex and had made arrangements for an improved maintenance system following advice received. The company had always been proud of its principle that it did not buy a new vehicle until that money was in the bank. The company had a subsidiary company, Star Garage (Birstall) Ltd., where maintenance was done.