£10,000 FOR MAINTENANCE EXTENSION BUT STILL A PENALTY
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AWEST COUNTRY firm of quarry owners and contractors which is just completing a £10,000 extension of its vehicle maintenance facilities, was deprived of the use of two vehicles for a month at a Section 178 inquiry by Western LA Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon last week.
The company, W. J. King and Sons Ltd., Bishop's Lydeard, near Taunton, is a member of the Anglo-American Asphalte Group. For the company, Mr. T. D. Corpe said it had 51 vehicles. Since July 8, 1966, a total of 19 had been issued with prohibition notices.
He said maintenance had not been neglected completely, and the maintenance record book went back several years. But his clients fully accept that they had fallen short of the standards required. Since receipt of the LA's letter of June 1 it had taken "dynamic action to put their house in order".
Mr. W. G. King, managing director, said the company had immediately joined the TRTA and put its maintenance scheme recommendations into effect.
Planning approval had been received in October, 1966, to erect a building measuring 105ft by 85ft. The new facilities were expected to be in operation within a month. An additional foreman and four extra fitters had been taken on.
Mr. J. L. Randle, vehicle examiner, said he had found the company "very cooperative-. More work had been done on the
vehicles than was specified on the GV9s. Suspending two specified vehicles on C licence for a month, Mr. Samuel-Gibbon, said: "I cannot let the matter go without imposing some penalty for the reason I cannot set up any kind of precedent that no one need do anything until I have one of these inquiries to ensure they do these things which are required."
During the hearing Mr. Samuel-Gibbon had commented: "One of the curious aspects of this case is the number of specified vehicles on B licence which have been on ever since the application was put in for claimed tonnage in 1933 or 1934.
"These are very old registration numbers —I thought 1 would tell you that interesting fact and I wonder whether they are, in fact, operating or whether they form a rival show to Beaulieu."
Mr. King said a number of vehicles were retained "for sentimental reasons". They included Foden steam wagons which were the subject of considerable interest, with many visits and much correspondence from "steam fans".
Mr. Samuel-Gibbon: "As these vehicles have not been used for some time, I am not sure that I should not take them off the licence under Section 177, but if you like to go on paying for these very expensive licences I suppose it is up to you."