'Serious defects' result in five GV9s
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• Boots Pure Drug Co Ltd appeared at Glasgow last week seeking a transitional O licence for 28 vehicles, its operating fleet in Scotland, amended at the hearing to 18 vehicles, the present operational strength. The company had been called before the LA under Section 69, following the issue of one immediate and four delayed GV9 prohibitions.
Mr James Livingstone, warehouse manager at Airdrie, gave evidence that the company had 12 vans there and six at six other Scottish branches. All maintenance work had been done for the firm by outside contractors although it was now advertising for a full-time, qualified mechanic to undertake checking and limited maintenance at Airdrie. Main work would continue to be done by outside garages.
Mr A. B. Bimie, Scottish LA said his examiners saw 10 vehicles during an inspection and gave one immediate and four delayed prohibitions. The defects were serious, said vehicle examiner Mr George McCallum, and mostly of the type which should have been caught by preventive maintenance. The premises were good and the system adequate; given regular inspection, as now proposed, the position should be satisfactory.
Mr Peter Harper, senior vehicle examiner, said that the firm operated a variety of systems at its various branches and suggested the introduction of a uniform system; but Mr Birnie was cautious and said that there could be reasons for such variations. He granted the 18 vehicles now operated, the licence to run for two years; he wanted to be advised regarding any comments from Boots on adoption of a uniform maintenance system at its Scottish branches.