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Industry gives thumbs-up to changes to Tribunals Service
Page 14
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By Chris Tindall.
TRANSPORT LAWYERS and haulage industry representatives have welcomed the changes made to the Tribunals Service that have addressed concerns of operators losing their right to appeal.
An overhaul of the workings of the Transport Tribunal could have resulted in operators being forced to seek permission to appeal against any decisions made by the Traffic Commissioners (CM 26 June 2008).
However, the Freight Transport Association (ETA) says these concerns have been resolved, and operators should notice little difference in the appeals process. Tribunals Service chief executive Kevin Sadler says: "These changes are all designed to improve the Tribunal process, making it more consistent, user-focused, streamlined and efficient."
James Back house, a partner at law practice Backhouse Jones, says the Ministry of Justice originally wanted appeals to be limited to points of law, and for Transport Tribunals to be heard by members with little knowledge of haulage operations.
But following consultation with the industry, he is now satisfied the system remains unchanged.
"It would have been really frustrating for operators if they had introduced a permission stage," he adds. -It would have been unfair, but they haven't done that, This licensing situation is so important to the people involved.
"It affects the livelihood of so many people. It's very important there's a right to the objection of that Tribunal for anybody that suffers revocation or action against their 0-licence."
Speaking for the PTA, Joan Williams says: "We have been working on this for about 18 months. Hopefully, not many of our members will feel the need to use it. But if they do, it's a protection built in for the proper right to appeal."
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