Bar tons' licences slashed
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• A haulage firm with a hree-year history of convicions has had its licence cut by nore than half after a licensing luthority called its list of problems "one of the sorriest stores" he had heard.
The licence held by Oldhambased Barton and Redman was cut from 20 vehicles and 10 trailers to five vehicles and three trailers, and its duration was reduced to one year.
North Western Licensing Authority Martin Albu also cut the licence of Thomas Christopher Barton — son of the company's managing director who shares premises — from eight to six vehicles, directing that it expire at the same time as the company's licence.
Vehicle examiner Philip Dennis said that in the 12 months to September 1987 16 prohibitions, listing 44 defects, had been imposed on Barton and Redman's vehicles. Four of the prohibitions had been imposed during annual test and seven indicated neglect.
Between August 1985 and February 1988 11 prohibitions had been imposed on T C Barton's vehicles, 10 being of immediate effect and five indicating neglect. Three had been imposed during annual test. No inspection records could be produced and the premises were dirty and untidy.
For Barton and Redman and T C Barton, John Backhouse admitted that the company had been convicted of a whole series of offences, including unauthorised use, overloading, dangerous parts, using a vehi cle without an excise licence, displaying an altered excise licence and using vehicles without test certificates.
Thomas Barton Senior, a director of the company, said it had had problems in obtaining the right calibre of maintenance staff, particularly in 1986 and 1987. He felt, however, that the two skilled fitters now employed were a great deal better. One of the current fitters, George Davies, said that he was satisfied that the vehicles could now be kept in a roadworthy condition.
Warning that any further problems would put both licences in severe peril, Albu said that it was one of the sorriest stories he had heard since becoming a licensing authority. There had been a string of problems, and it was up to Barton to see that the staff knew what they were doing, said the LA.