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Last-chance saloon for skip-hire firm with maintenance problems

6th May 2004, Page 28
6th May 2004
Page 28
Page 28, 6th May 2004 — Last-chance saloon for skip-hire firm with maintenance problems
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A SKIP-HIRE firm which operated without a transport manager for six months has had its licence revoked for a string of maintenance offences. However, implementation has been delayed to allow the company to put its house in order.

Welsh Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alan Bourlet revoked the licence held by Graham and Paul Jones when they appeared before him at a Newport disciplinary inquiry. The pair, trading as Will Jones Skip Hire, of Hirwaun, South Wales, were granted a licence in June 2003.

But the DTC has postponed putting the decision into effect until the middle of July to give the company the opportunity to seek a fresh licence.

Vehicle examiner Stephen Cooke said that one delayed and three immediate prohibitions had been imposed on the firm's vehicles, mainly for tyre defects.

A check in February revealed gaps in the inspection records and no forward planning system. Defects listed were not endorsed as having been repaired.

Transport manager Andrew Bennett said he had initially been employed for two days a week. He had left last August following an argument but had returned in February and was now employed full-time. He was alarmed at the systems that were in place and, although there had been a marked improvement, things were still not good enough.

However, he now had over-riding responsibility and the last say on decisions. He agreed that the firm had effectively been operating without a transport manager for six months.

Graham Jones said that positive changes were planned including further capital investment and a move towards a limited company. RECIPE FOR TROUBLE

The outcome of not having a qualified transport manager for six months was inevitable and it was not surprising that the firm got into trouble.


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