Difficulties do not bar licence
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• Gordon Seymour, former director of the failed Gordon J Seymour Haulage, is likely to be granted a licence in his own name, provided North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Keith \Vaterworth has no qualms after seeing the receiver's report.
Seymour, trading as Consett Commercial Vehicles Sales & Hire, was at a Leeds public inquiry seeking a new national licence for 11 vehicles and two trailers based at the company's former premises.
Vehicle examiner John Hughes said that in December he examined three vehicles, all of which were satisfactory. Gordon J Seymour Haulage had gone into voluntary liquidation. The company's maintenance had not been up to the required standard. Eleven prohibitions, including six immecliates had been issued. Seymour had run the company's maintenance and would be running the maintenance in his new firm. For a long time he had failed to maintain vehicles satisfactorily which meant, said Hughes, in his view Seymour was incapable of maintaining vehicles.
Traffic examiner David Rout said that in April he found Seymour had moved his operating centre.
For Seymour, Roger Hird said that at present he was using JSY Transport's premises at Delves Lane Industrial Estate, Consett but land next to his previous operating centre was being acquired.
Seymour said on the advice of his accountants he had started the current business in 1992 while the company was still trading. In May 1991 he was convicted of causing death by reckless driving while driving his car. He became so depressed that he was not capable of running the company Trading conditions, and personal difficulties contributed to the unsatisfactory maintenance. Another company went into liquidation owing £36,000. Following his trial, at which he was disqualified from driving for two years, it was too late to save the company.
He had to vacate the operating centre within 24 hours after a quick sale. Waterworth said the application was invalid as Seymour had applied for an operating centre that was no longer available to him.
Delaying the decision for a week, Waterworth said he was satisfied Seymour had sufficient finance and had not lost his repute. If a fresh application was made in that time interim authority would be granted for the new operating centre. Providing there were no more qualms after reading the receiver's report, he would grant a licence for four vehicles and one trailer for one year only.