0-licence renewed
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THE PSV operator's licence held by the Berresford Motors associate, William Stonier and Sons of Tunstall has been renewed for 12 months by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners.
The case first came before the commissioners last September when they refused the application because of what they thought was a bad report following a technical check by Department of Transport vehicle/ examiners.
An appeal against that decision was allowed to the extent that a licence was granted for two months after the Transport Secretary accepted that it was impossible to decide the appeal on its merits as a crucial part of the evidence was missing from the transcript of the proceeding (CM, January 8).
Vehicle examiner Graham Howard said he considered the company's maintenance facilities adequate for the 11 vehicles applied for.
He inspected eight vehicles, imposing an immediate suspension notice on one for a broken spring and a power-steering fluid leak and a defect notice on another for three items. He agreed the broken spring had been mentioned to him by Stonier's staff before his inspection.
James Berresford, the company's managing director, said further improvements were planned at the premises but to an extent the time scale for the work to be completed depended upon when Stonier's received compensation for the compulsory purchase of its previous premises.
He felt that it would only be a matter of weeks before it was settled. Once the work was completed the facilities would be adequate for a greater number of vehicles and application would be made to increase the fleet.
Granting renewal, the chairman, Arthur Crabtree, said the commissioners were delighted to have had a good report at last. However, they were not prepared to grant a full term licence in view of the past record.
The Commissioners were very hopeful that they would be able to renew the licence for a full term in the traffic area office without a public sitting in a year's time.