Planning problem cuts length of licence
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• Planning problems over the operating centre of Lincolnshire independent Enterprise and Silver Dawn has led Eastern Traffic Commissioner John Mervin Pugh to renew its PSV Operators licence until the end of the year only or for a period of two months following the grant of planning permission for a new operating centre, whichever is sooner.
Graham Oakden, of North Kesteven District Council, said the firm has planning permission to keep one vehicle at its operating centre at The Mill, Grantham Road, Waddington.
Four vehicles are kept there in breach of a planning enforcement notice issued following the dismissal of the firm's appeal against the refusal of planning permission for four vehicles.
He agreed that the council has deferred prosecuting the firm for breaching the enforcement notice while it sorted itself out.
Alternative depot
The firm's proprietor, Michael Gallagher, said he hopes to acquire land suitable as an alternative depot. Tenders for the land were due on July 4 and his application for planning permission for the site is to be considered by the council on July 21.
Two of the vehicles at The Mill were hired to a Mr Wallace who hired them back to the firm to use on its services.
Announcing his decision, Pugh said the firm is only licensed for two vehicles. He did not approve of the hiring arrangement, which he felt is a way of getting round the operator licensing system.
Consequently, to regularise the position he would renew the licence in respect of four vehicles. He was in effect patching up the firm's operations to legalise them. , Pugh warned that when the 1985 Transport Act comes fully into effect, the hiring out of vehicles will cease. It was a loophole in the law in the past, he said.