So-called inspection was pitiful
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• The Scottish LA reserved decision — and he stressed that this was not a formal term but a very deliberate decision in view of the matters involved after hearing an application for an 0 licence for four vehicles by John Keenan (Transport) Ltd of Muirkirk, a continuation from a hearing on September 24 when there was a decision to refer to previous transcripts. Mr James Law said that a licence had been granted to the applicants but for only one year: because of a clerical error or misunderstanding Mr T. E. Rowe, the applicant, had sat tight and did not :omplete the forms seeking renewal. He had xen granted an interim licence and had novided the LA with evidence of financial ibility to operate and a record of past naintenance inspections.
Mr A. B. Birnie said that on checking the ranscripts he had found that he had not tone into great detail on the subject of [eeping records. On checking the nformation provided he had shown some cepticism regarding the authenticity of the ecords provided. That persisted and, he aid, "my scepticism about these records is einforced-. Later he told the applicant "1 ncreasingly get the feeling you are trifling vith me."
Mr Peter Harper, senior vehicle inspector, ,ave evidence of study of maintenance ecords; these apart he thought that six veekly intervals were too long and that a four weekly inspection in depth was required.
Mr Law said it was a great pity that there were so many types of inspection forms in use. so that no one knew what was really wanted or needed. There was urgent need to change this position and to indicate positively what form of inspection recording was required. Mr Birnie pointed out that the interim granted to Keenan had expired on October 6 and Mr Rowe contended that he had been authorized at the previous hearing to continue use of vehicles until the hearings were completed. Mr Birnie instructed that use must stop forthwith although he made it clear that "had you applied for an extension you would have got it". He said Mr Rowe had an extremely bad record and that he had produced a pitiful so-called "inspection system". He would make a decision after fuller consideration of all the evidence.