Good record pays off
Page 13
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THE West Midland Traffic Commissioners have granted a new pay operator licence for two vehicles for 12 months to Densbury Ltd, a company formed by the previous managing director of E. J. Middleton (Rugeley) Ltd.
Making the limited grant, the Commissioners' chairman, Arthur Crabtree, said the company's application for an international licence for five vehicles would be refused on the grounds of repute and previous conduct. The Commissioners could not overlook the serious circumstances which had led them to revoke all the psv licences of Middleton last year (CM November 15,1980).
Nevertheless, they had no desire to ban anyone from the industry for ever. Therefore, they would make the limited grant and review the situation at the end of one year.
In evidence, Eric Middleton said that he and his son, the directors of the applicant company, intended to run excursions and tours, and maintain the two vehicles themselves. The vehicles were based at the former Middleton premises which belonged to his wife.
The circumstances were very different than in the past. E. J. Middleton (Rudgley) had operated 14 vehicles and had re lied to a great extent upon the staff. He had been unable to keep his finger on everything.
Eric Middleton agreed that following the revocation of that company's licence, a number of vehicles had been sold to a Mr Stanton. He denied he had continued to operate those vehicles saying Mr Stanton had operated them from Middleton's Rudgley premises. Mr Middleton agreed that he had looked after the vehicles for Mr Stanton and had driven them occasionally.
He denied that it had been a device to get round the fact the licences had been revoked. They had been trying to keep the custom for Mr Stanton to take over, but that had been blocked by Department of Transport enforcement staff.
For the company, Bob Tranter said that Mr Middleton had previously placed his reliance in staff and as a result he had lost what it had taken him 20 years to build up.
Mr Crabtree commented that the Commissioners had been unable to understand at the time of the revocation why, after 20 years, the company should suddenly go off the rails.