Minibus operator neglected notice
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A WORTHING minibus operator had one public service vehicle licence revoked, the renewal of a second refused and a new application turned down by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners last Friday. Worthing Coaches Ltd had been called to public inquiry for poor maintenance and a failure to keep proper maintenance records.
Giving his decision, the deputy chairman, Mr George Mercer said that if the future conduct of the operator, Mr Raymond Fleet, showed that he was not a fit person to hold a licence then consideration would have to be given to revoking his remaining licences. Mr Fleet, said Mr Mercer, had palpably neglected the responsibilities which his licences imposed.
Vehicle inspector Mr W. Gibbard had told the hearing that the fleet had been operated since 1971 and since that time the operator had failed to keep regular maintenance records. From January this year he had imposed prohibitions on two vehicles because of serious mechanical faults as well as others less serious.
Mr Fleet claimed that records were kept though not on official forms. One of the vehicles, he said, had been bought only a few days before the inspection and he had asked Mr Gibbard to look at it,