Every vehicle was defective
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EVERY _ vehicle in the fleet operated by Anthony Purchase of arierley Hill was found to be defective when a senior vehicle examiner carried out a fleet check, the West Midlands Licensing Authority A. A. Crabtree was told at Birmingham last week.
The LA was considering taking disciplinary action, but at the same time he had before him an application by A. Purchase Ltd to take over the licence which authorised 10 vehicles and 10 trailers.
He was told an application for a new licence for four vehicles and four trailers by Carricroft Ltd a company acquired by Mr Purchase was to be withdrawn.
Giving evidence, senior vehicle examiner Mr Batholomew said he had examined the seven vehicles and trailers in March. All the vehicles had defects and he issued three immediate prohibitions, three delayed prohibitions and one defect notice.
Inspection records had been properly completed but were not consistent with the condition of the vehicles. This he thought was mainly due to a lack of proper facilities.
Mr Purchase said the death of his father in December, who had supervised the maintenance, had had a considerable impact on the business.
Since the fleet check, an inspection pit has been installed, a new mechanic engaged, and older vehicles in the fleet replaced. He now intended to personally supervise the mechanic.
Granting the company a licence and taking no disciplinary action, Mr Crabtree said that on the face of it, whenever vehicles had been found to be defective he ought not to make a grant.
Having heard the other side of the story he felt the main problem had been the death of a key man, Mr Purchase's father, which often threw a company into difficulty. In addition, some credit had to be given for the firm's previous good reputation.