La gets sti ff warning
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11 Lancaster City Transport has been given a stiff warning by North Western Traffic Commissioner Martin Albu about the way its vehicles are maintained.
Department of Transport vehicle examiner George Shotton said that a low pass rate at annual test and the number of defects being found on vehicles presented for annual test had sparked a maintenance investigation last July.
The company's staff appeared to lack interest. Rumours were flying around and there was uncertainty about the company's future. Only three of the vehicles he inspected were satisfactory, and he issued three immediate prohibition notices, two delayed prohibition notices and five defect notices. Shotton felt that the maintenance staff were overworked and insufficient for a fleet of 76 vehicles. However, he was told that the fleet was going to be cut to 40, and the Kendal depot closed.
A further investigation was carried out in March. It revealed the fleet had been cut to 54, with a further 24 vehicles on a different licence. Out of the eight vehicles inspected, only one was in an acceptable condition. However, there had been a definite improvement in the vehicles presented for annual test.
Director of engineering David Whalley said that the servicing programme had been restructured, and the period between inspections reduced. A more detailed inspection sheet had also been introduced and the fitters undertaking the inspections now did nothing else.
The company's licence was due for renewal in October, and he felt that it ought to have achieved an adequate standard by then.
Managing director Thomas Knowles said that the staff had been concerned about what was going to happen after deregulation, but the future now looked bright.
Albu said clearly the situation last July had been unsatisfactory. Action had now finally been taken, but the company would have to speed up its rehabilitation programme. The situation would be looked at very closely when the licence came up for renewal.