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Removals firm was 'a sham' licensee was 'not very good at running lorries'

5th July 2007, Page 39
5th July 2007
Page 39
Page 39, 5th July 2007 — Removals firm was 'a sham' licensee was 'not very good at running lorries'
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A SWANSEA-BASED operation has been described byTraffic Commissioner Beverley Bell as"a sham from day one". She revoked the licence held by Margaret Jones and disqualified her from holding an 0-licence indefinitely. Jones. trading as Ability Removals, with a licence for five vehicles and five trailers, appeared before the TC at a Cardiff disciplinary inquiry.

Vehicle examiner Alister Price said it seemed that Jones' husband Frank had been running the business on a day-today basis. Although there had been no prohibitions since January, there were only two safety inspection records.

Traffic examiner William Rees reported drivers' hours and tachograph problems. He was concerned because there had been no improvement since advice was given during a new operator's visit in 2004.

Jones was unable to say what the vehicles were and she could not tell the TC their weight or registration numbers. Asked about a former driver who had driven for longer than permitted, she was unable to say what the drivers' hours rules were. She agreed that she was not very good at running lorries.

Frank Jones said they now knew what to do and had the right people. There was a CPC holder who could start immediately.

Making the revocation and disqualification orders, the TC said that clearly Margaret Jones was not the operator. It was nothing but a sham. No financial evidence had been produced and the Joneses had operated without a CPC holder. If Frank Jon es wished to seek a licence of his own he had "a mountain like Everest to climb to reach the required standard".


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