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Finn escapes with warning at first inquiry in 33 years

7th April 2005, Page 39
7th April 2005
Page 39
Page 39, 7th April 2005 — Finn escapes with warning at first inquiry in 33 years
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A COUNTY Durham firm escaped with a warning when it appeared at its first disciplinary inquiry in its 33-year history to explain a spate of prohibitions and gaps in its maintenance records.

Darlington-based Owen and John Hanratty, trading as Hanrattys, had been called before North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.

Vehicle examiner Geoffrey Flatters said that over the past five years one delayed and three immediate prohibitions had been issued to Hanrattys' vehicle, with five variation notices. On two occasions it had taken three attempts to clear a prohibition.

There were no inspection records available prior to February 2004. The records that were produced showed inspection periods had become extended.

Appearing for Hanrattys, George Swinbank said there had been a lot of trouble in their yard due to vandalism and they had asked the previous maintenance contractor to keep the inspection records. Unfortunately, that firm had disappeared and the maintenance records had gone as well.

When their maintenance contractor prepared the vehicle for annual test it was often taken for test and failed, he added, and that was hardly their fault.

They now had a new office which was vandal proof with everything in place to make a go of it.They had been in business for 33 years and the wagon had never caused an accident because of any defects.

The TC said that the MoT test was not a cheap inspection service. The firm must tell its maintenance contractor that it was its responsibility to get the vehicle through the annual test first time every time.

After Owen Hanratty said he was the firm's transport manager through grandfather rights, the TC commented that times had moved on and things had perhaps passed him by.


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