TRANSPORT SECRETARY Nicholas Ridley has allowed an appeal by a
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
small independent operator against the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners' indefinite suspension of his psv operator's licence.
The operator, Mr A. A. Stephens trading as Stephens Coaches, had been operating psv vehicles for over 20 years and lost his 0-licence last year.
On the introduction of 0licensing he was granted a fiveyear licence from December 1981 to November 1986.
He overpaid the first payment by £72.26. On December 1, 1982 he was asked for the second payment and this failed to take into consideration his overpayment. He sent a cheque which was returned to drawer. The cheque for £840 did not include the first overpayment and subsequent requests for payment did not acknowledge the amount owed until later.
In the meantime two of Mr Stephens' vehicles had been issued with immediate prohibition notices owing to serious mechanical defects. Mr Stephens was called to a public hearing last June.
The hearing did not start on time and Mr Stephens left the hearing 19 minutes after it had been due to start, leaving his cheque with the clerk of the court.
The hearing started minutes after Mr Stephens left. The Commissioners suspended his licence indefinitely.
The Commissioners were said to have been wrong to suspend the licence indefinitely.