GV9s for Welsh council
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• A Welsh council was severely criticized last Friday for failing to regularly maintain its vehicles, and a ban on the use of three lorries for three months was imposed.
Aberystwyth Borough Council was called before the South Wales Licensing Authority to show why its carrier's licence should not be revoked, suspended or curtailed.
Mr. J. H. Chard, clerk to the Authority, said a Ministry examiner made a spot-check on a council lorry in April and, finding 17 defects, immediately banned it from use.
Further checks on other vehicles revealed 13 defects in one lorry, eight in another, and six in one of the council's trailers. These were also put off the road until repairs were carried out.
The examiner, Mr . D. S. Williams, reported that the council vehicles were not regularly maintained and he found the maintenance unit too small for refuse vehicles.
Mr. Kendal Harris, town clerk of Aberystwyth, said the defects were very much regretted, and he assured the LA that in future regular checks would be made.
He pointed out that the checks had been made when the council was busy preparing for the Investiture celebrations and the sPecial holiday season this year.
Mr. C. Hugh James, the deputy LA, said the council must be severely criticized. A vehicle with dangerous defects was as lethal as one in the hands of a driver under the influence of alcohol.
Although three of the lorries were now in good order---the fourth was scrapped-he ordered a ban on their use for three months and called for further reports on the council's fleet in a few months' time.