News

A skip operator who failed to turn up at a public inquiry has had his five-vehicle licence revoked because of concern over poor vehicle maintenance and evidence that he may not be using his authorised operating centre.

The O-licence, held by Birmingham-based Alan Greathurst trading as Mr Skip, was revoked with immediate effect by West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour. He said the roadworthiness of the skip lorries was a matter of continuing concern, adding that Greathurst  had ignored a request to produce financial evidence.

According to vehicle examiner Adrian Thomas, since August 2004 there had been four roadside prohibitions and two variation notices had been issued to the firm. There was a 90% failure rate at annual test, and Thomas was asked to carry out a maintenance investigation following the issue of an S-marked prohibition in April.

That was for a seized load-sensing valve, together with a drivers' hours prohibition for a failure to produce tachograph records. Thomas said he'd had difficulty in getting hold of Greathurst and when he did, the operator said he had vacated his authorised operating centre and bought another skip-hire firm, which would be merged with his existing business to form a new company. However, Thomas did not know where Greathurst was operating from, nor with whom he had joined forces.

Revoking the licence, the DTC said the original operating centre had clearly been vacated some time ago. He was satisfied  there had been prohibition notices that gave particular concern, as they covered 11 items - including six involving brakes. And Greathurst had failed to satisfy the DTC that he had continuing financial standing.

The DTC had no option but to revoke the licence, given that he had no information from the operator about the current situation or what had led to the unauthorised use of an operating centre.