Senior's service check
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1 a An unsatisfactory fleet inspection, and the unathorised use of vehicles, have led to the licence of Harrogatebased Derek Senior being renewed for 12 months only, and for two vehicles and one trailer instead of the four vehicles and one trailer applied for.
Senior appeared at disciplinary proceedings before North Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority John Hampton in Leeds.
Traffic examiner Roy Boston said that Senior had been found to be operating vehicles which were not specified on his licence on five occasions. However, there was no evidence that more than two vehicles were ever used at any one time. Senior was situated in Ipswich during the week, returning to Harrogate at the weekends. When interviewed, he had said that the changeover of vehicles on the licence had been delayed because he was working away.
Senior said that at the time of the offences he had been working for a furniture firm. The vehicles were constantly on and off the licence because of the fluctuations in the furniture business. He obtained a new contract and applied for authority to operate four vehicles and a trailer. However, he found that he was unable to do a job in June because he was not able to supply sufficient vehicles.
Senior said that when he applied for four vehicles he was told that he would be given an interim licence, but that was refused because of a pending public inquiry. The contract customer then said that he would not employ him unless everything was 100%.
Vehicle examiner Anthony Manhy said he had experienced difficulty in contacting Senior. A delayed prohibition was imposed on one of Senior's vehicles after a roadside check in May. The other vehicle in possession was inspected in June. He only found minor defects because that vehicle had been prepared for his inspection. Though Senior had promised to produce his inspection records and a driver defect report book the following day, they never materialised. A letter had been received from the contractor said to be undertaking the maintenance, stating that he had not checked any of the vehicles since 10 June.
Manby said he considered the condition of the vehicles to be below acceptable standards, and that the vehicle checked on the roadside was a true reflection of their condition.
Senior denied that the vehicle seen in June had been prepared for the inspection. He maintained that the vehicle stopped in the roadside check had been returning to Harrogate because of two broken springs and an oil leak.
He said he was now operating one vehicle hauling trailers for a firm in Newcastle and he now had a maintenance agreement with North Yorkshire Commercials.
Financial evidence was heard in private at Senior's request.
Renewing the licence for 12 months, Hampton said that the whole position, including maintenance and finance, would then be reviewed.