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OTC turns Hays down on licence
Page 7
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• by Mike Gewell and
Miles Brignall
Attempts by ..Jim Hay, the man behind four failed transport firms including recently liquidated Finlay Guy, to stop a public inquiry in mid-flow failed when the deputy traffic commissioner insisted it went ahead.
Hay and his wife Hazel placed the firm into voluntary liquidation in the middle of the inquiry and attempted to withdraw their application for a new national licence for 15 vehicles and 20 trailers based in Haddington and eight vehicles and 10 trailers in Belshill, Linlithgow. But Deputy Traffic Commissioner Richard McFarlane refused to let them off the hook, insisting proceedings went ahead.
The inquiry heard how Finlay Guy had been using 0-licences belonging to another of Hay's failed companies, John Adams & Sons, which failed earlier this year. It also heard at the start of the inquiry that the company was in good financial shape— yet two days later the couple called in the receivers.
Although neither of the Hays were listed as directors, they conceded at the inquiry that the sole director, Margaret Meiklem, was a front and that they in fact ran the firm. Meiklem is Hazel Hay's mother.
After refusing the application on grounds of both repute and finance, McFarlane said he was bemused that only days after the first day of the hearing it was insolvent. He considered that the company's subcontractors and employees had been left in a financial mess.
A spokesman for the liquidators, HLB Kidsons, says it is in the process of drawing up a statement of Finlay's affairs.
The PI heard that Jim Hay still has an 0-licence in his own name. Despite several attempts, Hay declined to comment to CM.