No resources no licence LA tells OD
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STOCKPORT owner-driver Christopher Murphy, trading as C & J Transport, had his 0-licence revoked on the grounds of insufficient potential resources by the North Western licensing authority R. D. Hutchings at Manchester last week.
Vehicle examiner Roy Barnes said that following an earlier public inquiry, he carried out a maintenance investigation in May. He found the vehicle, a large Fiat tractive unit parked at the Romiley premises of Atlantic Trading Co Ltd.
It was not in a roadworthy condition, but he was told that it had previously been impounded by a garage and had not been used since its return as certain vital parts were missing.
There were no maintenance arrangements at that time, as he was unaware whether the vehicle was yet operational. Mr Murphy had told him that there were three options possible in the future: he could operate on his own, driving the trailers belonging to Atlantic Trading; Atlantic Trading might take over the vehicle and employ him; or a new company might be formed by himself and Atlantic Trading.
Mr Barnes commented that there appeared to be financial problems in the operation of the vehicle.
Mr Murphy of Heaton Nortin, Stockport, said he was still negotiating with Atlantic Trading about the future. The vehicle was still off the road and he intended disposing of it as soon as it was repaired, as he had had so much trouble with it. In fact there was a court case pending with the supplier of the vehicle over its condition.
After Mr Hutchings had commented that he had a letter from a commercial garage, Graham Brothers Commercial Vehicles Limited, saying there was a large outstanding debt, Mr Murphy said that had now been cleared.
Questioned by Mr Hutchings, Mr Murphy said he did not realise that he would require a Certificate of Professional Competence by the end of next year.
He had no knowledge of the new regulations and he had not taken any steps to obtain a certificate. He did not know what it entailed.
At Mr Murphy's request, financial evidence was heard in private. Revoking the licence, Mr Hutchings said that on the basis of the financial evidence he had just heard, he had come to the conclusion that Mr Murphy's financial resources were insufficient.