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Family firm told to sod out its maintenance or else
Page 34
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A SOMERSET OPERATOR appearing at its first public inquiry since it started more than 60 years ago has been given a month to get a new maintenance contract or face having its licence revoked.
Western DeputyTrafficCommissionerAlanJenkins issued the ultimatum to Bridgwater-based RK Bell and cut the firm's licence from six vehicles to four.
It was often difficult for long-standing family firms to drag themselves up to 2006 standards,said the DTC. However, there had been a total failure of maintenance since 2003,with inexcusable unsuper-vised failures.
Vehicle examiner Gary Ford told a Bristol public inquiry he had carried out an unannounced maintenance investigation following the issue of an S-marked prohibition (showing a serious lapse in maintenance) at a roadside check. He examined three vehicles, issuing an S-marked prohibition for an insecure axle, worn shock absorbers, cracked windscreen and headlight defects. There were large gaps in the records and mileages, and brake-test results were not entered. Drivers had reported defects on several occasions but they had not been rectified.
For the company, David Cocks said it had con tracted out its maintenance, but was concerned about the service it was getting. The firm would cancel the contract and liaise with Vosa over entering into a new one with a company with a good reputation.
MD Nicholas Bell said Vosa's recommendations had been taken on board. Drivers had been made aware of their responsibilities and all defects would be rectified immediately.The period between inspections would be reduced from six weeks to four.
He assured the DTC safety inspections had been carried out, saying the contractors had not been particularly good with the paperwork.