Inadequate facilities but additional vehicles granted
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• A haulage company said to have inadequate maintenance facilities for its existing fleet was on Tuesday granted two additional vehicles.
Barnett and Graham Ltd of Catterlen Penrith applied at Carlisle for a variation in its licence. The company also appeared under Section 69 before the Northern LA, Mr J. Hanlon, follOwing the issue of two GV9s on two vehicles in November. A vehicle examiner, Mr James Evans, said that the company had 18 vehicles but only one of them could be kept under cover. The maintenance facilities were inadequate.
A director, Mr Arthur Hewitson, said he had made strenuous efforts to get better premises. The company was negotiating with British Rail, he said, for a disused railway station at Blencowe near Penrith. A site had been offered in Carlisle, said Mr Hewitson, but it was too far away.
Mr Hanlon said it was "plain unadulterated rubbish" for a Penrith company to be offered a site in Carlisle, 18 miles away. Carlisle had enough on its plate he said without introducing haulage firms in or near the city. Mr Evans said that if a further two vehicles were taken on the company should have better maintenance facilities although it had the men to take on extra vehicles.
Granting the additional two vehicles and trailers Mr Hanlon warned that the company should take greater care with maintenance.