A road sweeper operating firm has had its licence suspended after making “depressingly slow” progress since a public inquiry three years ago.

It comes after a report by the Traffic Commissioner in 2009 said the death of a young mum killed by a road sweeper operated by Cleckheaton -based Angus Heron Ltd may have been prevented had the company addressed “shambolic” systemic failings.

Yasmin Nazir, 30, died in the collision on the Drighlington Bypass on October 6, 2006, and her husband, Mohammed, and young daughter, Isha, were seriously injured.

Robert Bolam, who was driving a sweeper with a defective AntiLock Braking System (ABS) and was using his mobile phone, was jailed for seven years for causing Mrs Nazir’s death by dangerous driving.

A new report by Deputy Traffic Commissioner JE Perrett – published after a public inquiry was held on July 17 this year – has found “considerable” improvements have been made, but the good repute of the Cleckheaton firm still “hangs by the finest of threads”.

Its Standard National Operator’s Licence has been suspended for two weeks, ending on Friday, August 24.

After the inquiry in December 2009, the company agreed to carry out six-week safety inspections, random audits of its findings and brake tests every three months.

According to the decision report by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner, random audits of safety inspections were not put into place until after April 2010, and a maintenance investigation carried out in May last year was marked as unsatisfactory.

Miss Perrett said authorised vehicles were not always given safety inspections at six-weekly intervals and the operator had failed to ensure motor vehicles would be kept fit and serviceable.

She said in her report she accepted a “great deal” of work had been done since the public inquiry was called and she was satisfied the operator “can show professional competence”.

A total of 12 undertakings were agreed at the July public inquiry, relating to issues including frequency of safety inspections and audits, tests and training of new and existing drivers.

A spokesman for Angus Heron Ltd was not available for comment yesterday.