Two B-licence Vehicles Suspended After Convictions, Prohibitions
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TWO of the seven B-licence vehicles operated by W. B. Ovenden and Sons, Ltd., Bury, were suspended for four months by the North Western Licensing Authority, Mr. F. Williamson, at Manchester, last week. The company had been called to show cause why that licence, and their two-vehicle C licence, should not be suspended or revoked.
This action followed seven convictions and nine prohibitions against the Blicence vehicles since the last renewal in 1956, after previous warnings about similar offences. There had also been two prohibitions against one of the C-Licence vehicles last year.
Mr. F. Ashmole, clerk to the Authority, said that when Ovenden's asked for a renewal of their B licence on April 30. 1955, they admitted that 34 convictions had been registered against them, together with four prohibitions. However, they gave assurances that everything possible had been done to prevent any recurrence of these offences.
The Authority granted a renewal for one year, and in July, 1956, their next application was heard. It was then stated that a further six prohibitions and several convictions had been registered during the year, so the Authority deferred his decision to allow the company to operate for a probationary period of three months.
The following November he granted the application, for the licence to expire in April this year. Meanwhile, he sent a letter to the company drawing their attention to his powers to revoke or suspend licences, and stating that if there were no improvement in their activities he would not hesitate to do so. .
Their next application for renevital was received last April, but since the previous hearing there had been nine more prohibitions and seven convictions against the company on their B licence, and two prohibitions on the C licence, In evidence, Mr. 3. Ovenden, a director, said a determined effort had been made to improve the fleet. Four vehicles had been replaced by modern units this year, and the remainder were fairly modern. The oldest was completely overhauled two years ago. One C-licence vehicle had already been replaced, and the other one had been disposed of and a replacement was to be made.
A new maintenance shop had been constructed, he added, and modern equipment was now available. The vehicles were periodically checked, and there were frequent visits from the Authority's examiners, Much of the trouble had been caused by the dirty nature of the traffic---the materials used to treat hides had caused corrosion. Metal bodies and floors had now been fitted.
Announcing his decision, Mr. Williamson said his original intention had been to revoke the licence, but in view of the replacements, the new maintenance procedure, and the specialized nature of the traffic, he would grant a renewal, Two of the vehicles would be suspended immediately, but if there were any more prohibitions or prosecutions he would be much more severe.