Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan-based Tom Pritchard Contracting has succeeded in a bid for a licence to replace one held by managing director Thomas Pritchard as a sole trader, despite concerns over past vehicle maintenance standards. At a Cardiff public inquiry, vehicle examiner John Hill told Welsh deputy traffic commissioner Roger Seymour that out of four vehicles checked in January, one was given a defect notice for insecure suspension bolts.
Records showed gaps between inspections of up to nine weeks and three out of five vehicles checked at the roadside were given 'S' marked prohibitions. For the company, Miles Dorrington said the period between safety inspections had now been cut from six to four weeks two of the 'S' marked prohibitions had resulted from a rogue driver who had since been dismissed and the drivers had received refresher training and had been told they were being "watched like hawks".
Discussions had been held with the maintenance contractor and the FTA was now carrying out vehicle inspections. Seymour asked for a further maintenance investigation within six months and recommended random audit checks on the drivers' daily walk round. He said the company was only as good as its drivers and that Pritchard had to be harsh at times.
