Troup told to 'end state of war'
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• Operator John Troup, whose operating base is Hurworth Moor Farm, Darlington, was represented by his lather, William Vasey Troup, who is the transport manager, and was partially successful in his appeal to the Transport Tribunal last week.
Judge Hampden Inskip said that the Tribunal would grant the standard operator-licence renewal for 12 months and vary it from one vehicle only to two vehicles and two trailers not exceeding 5m in length.
Before the end of 12 months, Troup was told, he would have to apply again for licence renewal. The LA would be phoned that afternoon with the Tribunal's findings.
William Troup gave lengthy details that contrary to what the North Eastern LA had claimed, notification of change of base had been made properly and accepted, and that a hearing, at which he had arrived five minutes late, had been timed for 11.30am and not 10.30 as claimed by Deputy LA Norman Moody.
"Let's hear the evidence now," the judge told him.
Troup said it was decided later that there was to be a new application, so he had tried to comply with arrangements for a vehicle inspection and it passed the annual DTp inspection when the vehicle examiner was there.
Yet he had been told the vehicle would be inspected the following week. He was told that the premises and records could not be examined without the vehicle.
After an adjournment, Troup told the judge that at present only one vehicle was on the licence. Troup complained that when looking at the firm's assets, the LA had refused to take into account
the fact that at the time in question the firin held turk( worth £2,500 (subsequently sold for £4,000).
Troup produced letters fi satisfied and reputable customers supporting his appli( tion.
After another adjournmer Troup said that they also ra smallholding and wanted tw special trailers for chickens and agricultural materials th they would not put on °the' trailers. They held no trade at present.
The judge said that there appeared to be have been "feeling" between Troops a the LA for years; the 'fribu was thinking of granting the licence for one year, but it seemed essential in future f the LA to be supplied with formation on how the busirP was being run successfully.
There should be separate accounts for the haulage sid of the business.
Troup said that they had been under enormous pressure; cheques worth £4,000 had been delivered t wrong addresses by the Po! Office instead of to Troups they were very busy.
After another adjoummer the appeal was granted in p and "as a word of advice" fn the judge, the Troops were advised to "end this state o war" and agree a date, eve] inconvenient, to meet the a propriate person in order tc show their maintenance records and accounts.