Two fitters not enough for 30-vehicle fleet
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• A fleet of 30 vehicles and 22 trailers was too much for the two fitters employed by W. Lanham and Sons Ltd of Ormesby St Michael, Norfolk, and this was probably why the company had attracted four immediate GV9s in 1972.
This probability was agreed to by Mr Walter Lanham, managing director, with a consultant engineer giving evidence for him and a vehicle examiner in a Section 69 inquiry in Norwich last week.
The court was told that the company had received 41 GV9s since 1967 on a fleet estimated to travel between 800,000 and I million miles each year. Eight of the GV9s were immediate and four were issued in 1972. Lanham's workshop manager agreed with the deputy LA, Mr Gerald Kidner, that two of the immediates with 20 defects noted between them were very serious. Evidence was given that the company had excellent premises and facilities for maintenance. Since being notified of the inquiry it had taken advice from a consultant and would be implementing his proposals. In particular it was anxious to appoint new fitters and had plans to do so.
Giving judgement, Mr Kidner said that he was very concerned at the appalling number of prohibitions. He noted that all the parties seemed to be in agreement about the need for more fitters although his vehicle examiner wanted four fitters and a manager whereas the consultant had said that four should be sufficient. The licence would be curtailed by seven vehicles and three trailers already on the margin and further curtailed by suspending five vehicles and five trailers for two months. Thereafter an inspection would be ordered for six months' time and the licence would be at serious risk if another inquiry proved necessary.