LA refuses two East Midlands applications
Page 28
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Two applications for 0 licences in the East Midland traffic area have been refused by the LA, Mr C. M. Sheridan, in written decisions.
The first application, by Mr N. Lyon, of Lincoln, was for three vehicles with two more and four trailers to be acquired. Mr Lyon was declared bankrupt in April 1970 but at the time of the inquiry on March 30 this year, although still undischarged, he gave evidence that £3000 had been made available by his father-in-law. It was also stated that a number of local firms were going to provide him with work.
The three vehicles in possession had been idle for ,the past 12 months. A vehicle examiner, in evidence, said he thought' it would take a week, with considerable cost, to get the vehicles into a fit condition for testing. It was doubtful whether it would be an economic proposition to repair the vehicles which were between four and five years old.
Evidence was also provided to show that periodic maintenance and inspections would' be carried out but the LA did not consider the facilities and arrangements to be adequate and, in addition, did not consider that sufficient capital was available or the prospects of profitable work to be adequate. He therefore refused the application.
The second application was made by Worksop Sleeper Co, previously a C-licence holder, and was for three vehicles with one to be acquired. At the public inquiry it was stated that the .company had no premises and the vehicles were often away from their operating base for continuous periods, sometimes amounting to a year at a time.
A total of 14 GV9s, from June to December 1970, had been issued from six different traffic areas. As a result of a letter from the area mechanical engineer, a contract was arranged for fortnightly maintenance to be carried out by a Newcastle garage. The contract came into effect on December 1 last year but until the middle of March this year neither of the two vehicles covered by the contract had been presented to the garage.
Recently two of the three vehicles had been replaced and the third was under repair. Plans had also been made to acquire premises in Worksop to which the vehicles would return at weekends for inspection and repairs. In the meantime, it 'was stated, arrangements for contract maintenance were being considered.
The LA refused the application, stating that because of the applicant's record and history, the grant of a licence on the faith of the assurances given would not be justified.