Public inquiry to assess repute of "phoenix" firm
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• by Sally Nash
A public inquiry is to investigate the licence application of transport firm Stonetop following evidence that it will be a "phoenix' of Exeter-based Maddern Transport, which lost its 0licence for running trucks which "could endanger the public.
Maddern, one of the largest hauliers in the West Country, had its licence revoked in May and the decision was supposed to take effect from the end of July. But the company appealed against the decision at a Transport Tribunal which was heard on 1 August. The appeal was dismissed although the Tribunal gave Maddern a few more weeks to continue trading—until19 September.
But now Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown is heading a public inquiry into
Stonetop's 0licence application to run 35 vehicles—to be held on the same day that Maddern has been ordered to stop operating.
Evidence has emerged that Stonetop will be trading as Maddern Transport, from the same registered • address in Sowton, Exeter. Stonetop had advised the Traffic Commission that it had been "formed to acquire the business of Maddern Transport. The proposed directors of Stonetop are listed as Allen James Heaver, Kevin John Heaver, Mark John Heaver and Jean Hannan, Maurice Heaver and John Barry Heaver are both currently directors at Maddern Transport.
In another twist, Maddern's application for a full Dutch 0licence was turned down last
week. Pieter Hamilton, head of the legal department at the Netherlands International Road Transport Organisation (MRTO), said that the company did not ''meet the requirements of professional competence". The authorities were not satisfied that the company's transport manager, who was to be based in Holland, would have full controi as he was also working for another firm.
Maddern's UK licence was revoked after former Western Traffic Commissioner Christopher Heaps heard the company had been convicted of 13 offences since 1996. These ranged from using vehicles in a dangerous condition and overloading to using a vehicle with defective brakes.
Heaps said the company could no longer be held in good repute because of the seriousness and frequency of the prohibitions. He believed that the convictions and prohibitions demonstrated that the vehicles could have presented a safety risk to the public.
As CM went to press, nobody was available for comment from Maddern.