Oil crisis and 3-day week blamed for defects
Page 28
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
LAST winter's oil supply crisis and the three-day week were cited, and accepted, as a reason for the failure of maintenance by Norwich tanker fleet operator G. J. Goff Ltd when the company appeared before the Eastern LA under Section 69.
Mr Michael George Goff said his company had operated vehicles since the First World War without conviction or prohibition until the time when his customers panicked at the prospect of shortages and high prices for oil. The threeday week and restrictions on the use of electricity had meant his six vehicle fleet was working flat out.
Later, Mr Goff was to agree that his inspection and maintenance system had failed and he said that he was taking professional advice on the installation of a new one.
Giving evidence for the DoE, vehicle examiner Richard Potter said he had visited Gofrs premises following immediate GV9s imposed on three vehicles during March and April. On his visit he imposed two further GV9s. There was no complaint of the facilities or premises and the company maintained commercial vehicles for many other operators.
Mr Potter alleged that the defects specified were such as to "render the vehicles very dangerous on,the road" He asked for records and some uncompleted documents were handed to him. Giving his decision the LA, Mr H. E. Robson, said he would accept the extreme difficulties of trading during last winter and would not on that score alone make a direction. However, there had been an important failure to fulfil undertakings given when the licence was granted and a direction would be made in this matter. The threevehicle margin would be curtailed and one specified vehicle would be suspended' for one month.