Last updated at 13:47, Wednesday, 17 October 2012

A scaffolding company has been given a formal warning by the deputy traffic commission because it ignored an order not to use a vehicle.

E&S Scaffolding Ltd, which operates from Solway Trading Estate in Maryport, was also banned from running HGVs for a day after a public inquiry into its operator’s licence.

The hearing followed investigations in June by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

A report by a vehicle examiner identified shortcomings in the firm’s vehicle safety standards.

An examiner found that a vehicle under the company’s licence was being used despite an order preventing it from operating. The vehicle had been subject to a delayed prohibition notice three days earlier for brake hose, exhaust system and anti-lock warning lamp defects.

It was found carrying scaffolding materials, even though an independent inspection had not been carried out to check the defects had been repaired.

The check had been booked for the next day.

Company directors Edward and Sandra Hodgson were told about a report submitted by a VOSA vehicle examiner, which identified shortcomings in their vehicle safety standards.

The deputy traffic commissioner found that vehicles had not been given routine inspections on time, that drivers were not carrying out daily defect checks and that the authorised premises in Aspatria was no longer being used.

The business had moved from its base on Brayton Domain Industrial Estate, Aspatria, to the Solway Trading Estate without getting permission from the traffic commissioner.

The firm had previously been warned about parking vehicles at unauthorised locations. Vehicles had also failed annual tests and picked up prohibitions at the roadside, the examiner reported.

The deputy traffic commissioner suspended the company’s licence last Sunday for a day, and recorded a formal warning.

The company made a commitment to ensure that vehicles would have roller brake testing.

First published at 13:44, Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk