Evasive operator loses O-Licence
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TRAFFIC Commissioner (TC) for Wales Nick Jones has revoked the O-licence of MLJ Turf and Soil Supplies after the business failed to co-operate with Vosa staff and was found to have an unsatisfactory maintenance record.
Gwilym Owen, Vosa vehicle examiner, told the TC at a September public inquiry held in Wrexham that the boss of the Garndolbenmaen, Gwyneddbased business, sole trader Morris Jones, had been difficult to get hold of and was unresponsive. Examples included: • messages from the vehicle examiner to the operator were rarely answered; • on one occasion Jones said he was on his way to see his father in hospital so that meeting was postponed; • on another occasion the operator said he was away on an urgent job and would not be back until later; • further messages on the operator’s phone were not answered; • the only meeting with Jones was when the vehicle examiner called in en route to another operator; • The operator failed to attend a pre-arranged date.
The business had been granted a restricted O-licence in 2005 for three vehicles and three trailers.
When a maintenance investiga tion was eventually carried out it was unsatisfactory in view of: • a 100% prohibition rate – albeit with relatively few roadside encounters; • an MoT initial failure rate of 85.71%; • no records were seen by the examiner as a result of lack of cooperation from the operator; • The nature of the MoT failures pointed to the possibility that drivers’ walk-around checks were not being carried out properly.
TC Jones concluded: “What little information has been gleaned reveals a wholly unsatisfactory operation with insufficient regard to road safety.
“I make a finding that this operator has obfuscated with both myself and Vosa.”