Hauliers' sons in failed licence bid
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The Exeter-based haulage company set up by the sons of Maddern Transport bosses Maurice and Barry Heaver has failed to obtain an Operator's Licence.
Western Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown decided that Stonetop was unable to demonstrate its good repute because of its close connection with Maddern Transport. The company had applied for an international licence for 35 vehicles and 40 trailers.
Persistent maintenance problems had led to the revocation of Maddemi's licence for 52 vehicles and 60 trailers in January, a decision which was subsequently upheld by the Transport Tribunal appeal in August.
Representing Stonetop, Chris Over said that the company was seeking to retain what was good about Maddern and dispose of the bad. The new business had been set up with a totally independent chairman, Charles Gaughan, and the managing director was the company's former accountant, Jean Hannon.
Maddern would retain ownership of the vehicles which were on lease-hire contracts and registered in Holland for a period. But if the application was granted
the vehicles would be re-registered in the UK.
There had been no attempt to hide anything under the corporate veil, said Over, However, Constable Chris Eggins, the Devon and Cornwall traffic intelligence officer, said he was concerned that Stonetop was merely a "phoenix company",