News

Consideration of action against the 20-vehicle licence held by Worcester-based Mid Developments has been adjourned for a second time to allow VOSA to carry out maintenance and tachograph investigations.

The first hearing was adjourned in January by the then West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon, since retired, and has now been adjourned by Deputy Commissioner Beverley Bell until November.

The company had initially been called before the TC because of concerns over directorship  and finance.

For the company, Tim Ridyard said the sole director and sole shareholder was James Cousins. The licence was granted in 2003 and Cousins became a director in October 2006. The company secretary remained London Law and the transport manager remained Carlton Hobbs. There had been a number of prohibition notices and the pass rate at annual test was around the national average. There were two artics and 17 tippers in possession.

Asked why Hobbs was not present despite a request that he attend, Cousins said he was "stranded" in Wales. As far as he knew Hobbs lived there and although they rarely met they were in constant contact by telephone.

Acting VOSA area manager John West said maintenance and tachograph investigations carried out in April 2004 had been satisfactory.

Financial evidence was heard in private.

The DTC said she wanted VOSA to look at a good proportion of the fleet and check the tachograph charts for a representative  number of vehicles.

The previous maintenance and tachograph investigations were three and a half years ago and the DTC is concerned that the company may not meet the professional competence requirement.