LA warns of danger to licensing system
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IT was not right for a Licensing Authority to appear to condone falsification of inspection reports. There was already a great deal of this sort of cheating going on throughout Lincolnshire and the East Midland traffic area, more than the Licensing Authority and his staff could ever hope to detect. If no action was taken the licensing system would be undermined.
These comments were made at a Nottingham public inquiry this week by the East Midland LA, Mr C. M. Sheridan, after an operator and his maintenance garage had admitted collusion in filling in gaps in vehicle inspection reports.
The LA was considering action under Section 69 of the Transport Act against Loates Bros (Contractors) Ltd, South Leverton, Notts. A vehicle examiner who had noticed that details in reports had been filled in after the date shown had instituted inquiry.
Mr Colin Loates, managing director, said that his manager had found gaps in the reports and had asked the garage to fill them in, which was done.
Mr Laurence Wall, the garage proprietor, admitted doing so although he knew this was wrong, but said in mitigation that the vehicles had been in and out regularly and he agreed to do it.
The LA said the licence authorised six vehicles and three trailers and there had been problems concerning maintenance. At a Section 69 inquiry in April 1974 it was said there would be a contract with Stockdale Plant Hire. It transpired this arrangement was altered with good reason to one with Wall Bros, of Haxley.
When it was realised that gaps were occurring in the reports, arrangements were made between Loates and Wall to cover this up by filling in false details. In their evidence neither Mr Loates nor Mr Wall had disputed this.
Apart from the question of the reliability of the parties the change had not been entirely satisfactory; in other reports the intervals between inspection were not stated, in many cases the mileages were omitted and the stated intervals for inspection ignored.
It has been said that the falsification was the sort of thing that happened once and would not do so again. While appreciating the parties' frankness their offence could not be condoned. An order would be made with immediate effect reducing the authorisation to four vehicles and three trailers. Unless fresh and satisfactory arrangements With another garage were made within four weeks the licence would be suspended until such time as this had been done.