Ball's records are absolute disgrace'
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• West Midlands Deputy Licensing Authority Ronald Jackson lashed out at Herefordbased operator Ball of Maclley last week, describing its maintenance records as an "absolute disgrace". Jackson warned the haulier that if it did not put matters right, it need not bother applying for a further renewal of its licence.
The Deputy LA said that he was prepared to grant Ball's renewal application for only 12 months and that he would allow only three vehicles and two trailers instead of the four vehicles and two trailers requested. Jackson said that some people might think his decision "over-lenient" — but he was nevertheless ready to let the company take one more bite of the cherry.
Michael Carless represented the company and he challenged the vehicle examiner's report that there was little or no maintenance system in operation at Ball's depot. He was prepared, however, to accept the vehicle examiner's statement that the firm's inspection records were not up-to-date at the time of his visit. Carless said that Ball's maintenance was undertaken by managing director Michael Ball with the help of a mechanic, and regular back-up inspections carried out quarterly by a Mr Powell.
Ball told the hearing that one of his vehicles which had been given an immediate prohibition notice at its annual test had been OK when it left the company's yard and that its air leak had developed on the way to the test station.
He also said that a prohibition notice imposed at a road check in South Wales was caused by a cracked windscreen and that the notice had been cleared the following day.
Ball produced a record file on one of his vehicles for Jackson to consider and the Deputy LA described it as an "absolute disgrace". Jackson said that it contained records dated 2 and 30 December 1987 and one dated March 1986. Two sheets were undated and the file also contained records dated August and October 1985. Ball said in his defence that there were other records in the back of an old driver's log book.
Jackson complained about the records not being kept in proper order and he reminded Ball that the company had already been subject to disciplinary proceedings in October 1986 because its maintenance records were in such a poor state. Ball had promised then that matters would be put right, said the Deputy LA, and that his 12-month licence had been awarded to give him enough time to put his house in order. Nothing seemed to have improved. Ball said that his company now had newer vehicles in operation and that the poor records followed on from domestic problems he was enduring.