Maintenance 'shambles'
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• North ‘lestern Traff ic Commissioner Keith Waterworth has described the maintenance arrangements of a Manchester market trader as a "complete and utter shambles".
Tariq Saeed, trading as Dreamwise Bedding, appeared before the TC at a Manchester disciplinary inquiry; he holds a restricted licence for two vehicles with one specified.
The hearing heard that a vehicle examiner had imposed a delayed prohibition on the vehicle in possession and reported that no safety inspection records were available. He said there was no forward planning system and that the maintenance contractor had been changed without notification. In addition Saeed had been fined £450 by Cardiff Magistrates for using a vehicle without an 0-licence.
For Saeed, Ray Pidgley, of Ward International, said he had found it more convenient to have the vehicle inspected in Cardiff when he was down there at his market stall at weekends. A plan
ning chart had been installed showing inspection dates at sixweekly intervals.
He had shown Saeed how to conduct a proper walk-round inspection of the vehicle and Ward International would be carrying out regular audit checks on Saeed's maintenance.
The conviction for unauthorised use arose because Saeed gave his market business priority, said Pidgley.
After Saeed had given assurances that he would implement Ward's recommendations, Waterworth said: "If things go awry in the future the promises you have given will come back to haunt you."
Taking no action other than to issue a formal warning. Waterworth said Saeed had addressed the problems with the help of Ward International and had developed a comprehensive maintenance system. He accepted Saeed's undertaking that he would only use one vehicle under the licence.
Whether Saeed was released from that undertaking in the future would depend on his performance,