Water Orton reprieve
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HEART of England's Water Orton depot has been reprieved for anther year.
West Midlands Traffic Commissioners' chairman heard residents' representations against the use of the centre last week, but he made it plain that they could not take environmental considerations into account.
The Commissioners were considering taking disciplinary action against the 12-vehicle psv operators' licence of Heart of England Services, together with an application for the renewal of a 12-vehicle licence held by Heart of England Tours.
They decided that both companies should be authorised to continue to operate from Water Orton until the end of 1985, by which time the result of an appeal against a planning enforcement notice served on them by North Warwickshire Borough Council ought to be known.
George Day, managing director of both companies, said he could not understand how a vehicle examiner could make a satisfactory report in relation to Heart of England Tours and a rotten report in relation to Heart of England Services when both companies used the same maintenance facilities and staff.
Of three vehicles given prohibition notices, one had just been delivered after purchase from a Scottish operator, a second was under repair in the workshop and a third had a small bare patch on a tyre. The latter vehicle was in the garage awaiting inspection.
After Mr Jackson had said that the figures showing a small deficit in draft accounts produced were not very encouraging, Mr Day said that the figures were distorted as a three-and-a-half-year leasing liability of £100,000 was shown, yet the leased vehicles could not be shown as assets.
Questioned about the recent serious fire at the premises (CM, November 24), Mr Day said he did not feel that it would affect them too much financially.
The value of the vehicles lost was £105,000 and an insurance settlement of £87,000 had been agreed. A consequential loss policy had enabled the company to hire in vehicles to keep going.