17 GV9s after LA's warning

20th September 1968, Page 95

20th September 1968

Page 95

Page 95, 20th September 1968 — 17 GV9s after LA's warning

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• Grey Motors Ltd. of Bethesda had completely ignored his previous warning and the evidence showed that the vehicles

were thoroughly unsafe, said Mr. C. R. Hodgson, the North Western LA, at an

inquiry under sections 174 and 178 in Bangor on Monday. However, before giving his decision he wanted a complete fleet inspection to be carried out by his examiners.

The company was applying for a new B licence which would in effect renew its previous one but would modify a complicated set of conditions on the 12 vehicles and both these and the nine vehicles and two trailers on A licence were being considered on maintenance grounds, said Mr. J. E. Jones, for the applicant.

Nine immediate and eight delayed prohibition notices had been issued since the last inquiry in January 1967, said Mr. D. Smith, Ministry examiner, Caernarvon. Two immediate GV9s were issued in July 1967, one on a vehicle with 10 defects, including a driver's insecure seat. In November, when two further prohibitions were given, a similar defect was found in another vehicle. In January this year a vehicle was prohibited for seven defects and in July, GV9s were issued to both a tractor and trailer with 14 faults each.

Mr. Smith said Bethesda was now outside his area but since the last inquiry not one vehicle he had seen had escaped a GV9 and he considered the majority of defects should have been spotted by a mechanic or driver.

Mr. 0. Jones, a Colwyn Bay examiner, said he had visited the premises in June and found only one mechanic working, and on occasions he had had to refuse vehicle clearance.

Mr. Lewis Williams, director, Grey Motors, said that since his father's illness he had been carrying on the business but he had been hampered by domestic troubles and an acute shortage of maintenance staff. He produced two employment exchange letters saying no mechanics were available. "As soon as we get staff we find they leave to start their own businesses," said Mr. Williams. A good man had left in August and had been paid .£400 since then for maintenance work done independently. Even staff transport to and from work was being provided.

Mr. R. Wheeler, service manager, Automobile Palace Trucks Ltd., Llandudno, said he had been given carte blanche to put the Grey Motors' vehicles in good order. Complete inspection would be carried out every three months with regular service at 3,000-mile intervals. He told the LA it would take about three months completely to overhaul the fleet.