1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156 
Sheafline loses licence
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The 20vehicle PSV operator's licence held by Sheffield-based Sheaffine (PSV), the company set up by a co-operative of former South Yorkshire Transport drivers and engineering staff, has been revoked by North Eastern Licensing Authority Frederick Whalley.
Though the revocation will not take effect for three months, to enable Sheaf-line to negotiate a take-over, the decision could jeopardise Drawlane subsidiary North Western Road Car Co's plans to acquire a majority stake in the company.
At a public inquiry in Leeds, North Western managing director Robert Gregory said that if North Western went ahead with plans to acquire 75% of the equity they would have managerial control. They were looking for a minimum of six months to establish the engineering side and develop the company and would not be interested if the licence was shortened to less than six months' duration.
Vehicle examiner Norman White said that after 10 vehicles were examined in June, six immediate prohibitions, two delayed prohibitions and nine defect notices were issued. There had been no inspection reports since January 1989 for 50% of the vehicles operated.
Michael Waller, for Sheaf line, said there had been a failure by management to properly supervise the engineering department. Vehicles were acquired from a company that were supposed to be roadworthy, yet some of them did not even make the five-mile journey to Sheafline's depot.
Sheafline's managing director Jeffrey Holland said they had been trying since January to obtain a qualified fleet engineer. It was realised that the company needed outside assistance.
Whalley said he had serious misgivings whether Sheafline would continue to meet the financial standing requirements if the company stayed in business. Sheafline had operated buses that were in an unroadworthy condition, and that was a matter of great concern.
Because of the safety aspects, Whalley directed the vehicle inspectorate to carry out a full fleet inspection within the next seven to 10 days.