'Deplorable' firm's licence revoked
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London operator Fairterm
• The five-year restricted operator's licence for five vehicles of Fairterm Ltd has been revoked with immediate effect by Metropolitan Licensing Authority Air Vice-Marshall R G Ashford. The LA found that the operating centre had been moved once, if not twice, without his being informed.
Fairterm had also incurred convictions without informing the LA. The LA also found that the company's conduct of its affairs with regard to operator licensing was deplorable. "Were I certain as to those responsible," says the LA in a written decision, "I would have little hesitation in barring them from holding another licence for a considerable period."
When the licence was granted in 1985 the directors were R W Henry and C W Manning; the business was stated to be a demolition contractor and supplier of second-hand building materials; and the base was 108A Warner Road, SE5. In 1986 Henry gave a new office address as Unit 11, First Floor, 379-381 Brixton Road, SW9. In September 1986 a Fairterm vehicle was reported for not displaying an excise licence (the driver reported Fairterm as beinci at Tinworth Street, SE I I); the matter was reported to the DVLC and as a result the company was convicted of employing a driver without a heavy goods vehicle driving licence and not displaying an operator's licence disc.
In January 1988 a traffic examiner who called at Tinworth Street could find no trace of Fairterm. He called at the registered office in Brixton, could make no contact, but left a demand (MTA Form 51B) for tachograph charts This was not complied with.
The LA reports that a search of Companies House records shows that Henry and Manning resigned as directors in May 1986, being replaced by N F C Bickers.
A check in January 1988 showed that Fairterm was the registered keeper of only one of the authorised vehicles on the licence. Two, however, were registered in the name of Express Transport Holdings of Hercules Road, SE I. Later that month Fairterm was called, but did not respond, to a public inquiry; traffic area staff had phoned all known numbers of the company on several occasions but were unable to get a reply. The LA says that it seems to him that the company has gone to ground and is not prepared to answer the many issues raised.