RHA opposes licence
Page 13
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Mike Jewell and Karen Miles • Cumbrian haulier Axecroft faces an uncertain future after North Western LA Martin Albu granted it an interim 0-licence but demanded to see full accounts.
At a Manchester public inquiry the Road Haulage Association claimed the couple who ran the firm were unfit to hold a licence.
Albu questioned the company's directors, Kevin and Linda Thompson, over the company accounts. They had failed to convince him the firm was of appropriate financial standing.
The inquiry heard that accounts for the four months ending in April showed Axecroft had £90,000 of trade creditors on a turnover of £127,000. Earnings of £126,000 are still owed to the company.
For the RHA, Stephen Kirkbright alleged that some vehicles, trailers and plant had been transferred to Axecroft from V Thompson (Haulage)—a company owned by their father Victor— before the company went into liquidation in March. Both companies operated out of Risehow Industrial Estate in Flimby near Maryport.
Kirkbright also claimed that Kevin and Linda had failed to disclose their involvement with the former company in their licence application. He told the inquiry that vehicles had been operated by Axecroft, without licence authority following V Thompson (Haulage)'s liquidation.
In addition, said Kirkbright, a conviction against Kevin Thompson of causing death by reckless driving in a heavy goods vehicle had not been declared.
For Axecroft, Roger Hird said Kevin and Linda Thompson were two young people faced with the trauma of a collapsing family business who had moved into haulage on a smaller scale and tripped up on various points.
He added that although they had worked for their father's business they had not had direct responsibility for its finances.