Don't ignore inquiries!
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• North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Mark Hinchliffe has warned that operators who fail to attend public inquiries to deal with environmental objections are likely to face disciplinary action.
The warning came when he revoked the licence held by Yorkshire Halal Meat Suppliers, of Kildwick, North Yorkshire.
The firm had failed to attend a Skipton public inquiry in January which had been arranged to hear environmental objections to its bid for a new operating centre at Kildwick. At that public inquiry the Deputy TC heard evidence from North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council and North Yorkshire Police.
He then reserved his decision and called the firm to a disciplinary inquiry on the grounds that there appeared to have been a material change in circumstances since the licence was granted.
A representative of the firm, Ali Akbar Shan, arrived 14 minutes late and the Deputy TC decided the case should be put back until the end of the list. However, when the case was called he was told Shan had already left.
Refusing the application for the new operating centre and revoking the licence, the Deputy TC said the January inquiry had been arranged at great public expense. The failure of operators to attend such inquiries had been a source of concern to TCs for some time as there was no power to award costs.