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North-western traffic commissioner Beverley Bell issued a damning critique of Viridor Waste Management's compliance practices as she cut its licence. The Taunton-based firm's authorisation was cut from 30 to 25 vehicles indefinitely after the company had been issued with five immediate prohibitions and three variation notices between July 2005 and May 2006. It had also been convicted: twice for overloading once for using a truck with a defective tyre and six times for breaching the environmental  protection act.

Bell said she was shocked and appalled at the wholly inadequate attention given to the importance of the licence. "This company is concerned about self-preservation and does not appear to be concerned about road safety despite its protestations to the contrary," she said. Asked about an incident involving a lost wheel, Viridor managing director Michael Hellings said he was aware of the investigation but had not bothered to find out the outcome. On another conviction for insufficient tyre tread, he said the truck had a missed inspection and "it was just one of those things".

The firm had appeared at a previous inquiry in the western area and was given a formal warning for its convictions and failure to notify the traffic commissioner. Transport manager Paul Southwell told of regular meetings with maintenance contractors and tyre fitters. He said he had implemented driver training and now had four-week safety inspection intervals. It had been a trying time  but he worked hard to ensure satisfactory maintenance arrangements, he said. Bell told the company that commissioners for other areas where the company held a licence would be informed of her decision, so they could take a view on whether to request VOSA maintenance investigations.