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IC rejects 'sham' licence bid
Page 33
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A Liverpool firm has been refused an international licence because it
was a front for an operator with a poor history. Mike Jewell reports.
SPEKE, LIVERPOOL-based SCL Transport & Warehousing's application for a new international operator's licence for 10 vehicles and 11 trailers has been refused following a two-day public inquiry on the grounds that it was a "sham". North-Western 'fraffic Commissioner Beverley Bell had reserved her decision to give the firm the opportunity to prove otherwise (CM 25 January).
The directors of the company were Keith Spencer and Justin Coulthurst; Coulthurst's father Paul was the sole director of J&J Transport (North West). That company's licence was revoked in June 2002 when J&J Transport (North West) and Paul Coulthurst were disqualified from holding an 0-licence for two years.
Supply Chain Logistics was incorporated on 28 March 2001. The directors were Keith Spencer and Paul Coulthurst — Coulthurst remained a director until 22 February 2002. That company's licence was surrendered in July 2005 and a winding-up order was made.
As well as refusing SCL's application, Bell revoked the licence held by another company. Supply Chain Logistics (North West). of which Spencer was also a director.That company had been granted a licence following the surrender of the Supply Chain Logistics licence.
Announcing her decision, Bell said she had been unaware that Paul Coulthurst had been a director of Supply Chain Logistics (North West). She had looked carefully at the roles of Paul Coult h urst , Keith Spencer and Justin Coulthurst, and concluded that she could not trust any of these individuals. Bell added that Paul Coulthurst had only ever told her half the story and the evidence of Spencer and Justin Coulthurst had been similar to that of Paul Coulthurst.
This was full of untruths and half truths. Bell remarked, adding that in her opinion Spencer had been used by the Coulthurst family to secure the continuation of the business and that Paul Coulthurst had continued to play a major part in the transport operations of the various businesses.
All the businesses had a poor history of compliance and a poor history of financial trading. Bell was satisfied that the application by SCL Transport & Warehousing was once again a front for Paul Coulthurst. The same vehicles, factoring companies, and premises were being used and the same drivers were being employed.
Bell was satisfied that Spencer had been used by the Coulthurst family in an attempt to get round her original orders. She concluded tha. he had lost his repute as a transport manage] due to his role within the businesses run b) Paul Coulthurst and the subsequent attempt ti obtain a licence by Justin Coulthurst. E