A TRANSPORT business run by a father and son in Penketh has been closed by authorities.

But James and Andrew Towns were not disqualified for good following a public inquiry which finished earlier this month.

And 42-year-old Andrew has been told he can apply to run a new business in his name.

The inquiry heard that the pair had not carried out proper safety checks and that James Towns, aged 70, had been fined by police for interfering with a tachograph – which regulates how far a driver can travel each day.

Traffic commissioner Beverley Bell ordered that their business, on Warrington Road, have its licence revoked.

She said the evidence was so serious that there was no other choice.

The public inquiry was told that significant failings had been found in carrying out maintenance on the vehicles and keeping records.

She added: “The maintenance failings are serious and there has been an unacceptable risk to road safety for a long period of time.”

The hearing also heard that James Towns was stopped on the M6 in December 2010.

He was using a magnet to stop the tachograph working and the hearing was told Mr Towns Snr admitted the offence and was fined at Carlisle Crown Court in September 2011.

He said he disabled the piece of equipment, which records how far a driver has travelled, because he was driving for too long as a result of bad weather.

The commissioner said: “The use of magnets is a pernicious problem within the industry which is becoming more widespread.”

But she decided not to disqualify him from having a new operator’s licence saying his previously unblemished 46-year record in the industry counted in his favour. His LGV licence was cancelled for a year though.

She also said Mr Towns Jnr would not be disqualified so that he could reapply to run a business in his name in future.