N-West IC gets tough
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by Derren I layes III Hauliers in the NorthWest who break the law will be called to more public inquiries and face tougher penalties, new North Western Traffic
Commissioner Keith Waterworth has warned.
Waterworth, who took over responsibility for the area when Martin Albu retired at the end of last year, says the Vehicle Inspectorate will be targeting rogue hauliers and this could result in more operators appearing at public inquiries.
He says the VI will adopt the same targeting techniques in the North-West that have been successful in the North-East.
Last year the North-West called the least number of public inquiries in the country. Waterworth told the North-West Traffic Area Maintenance Advisory Committee he would be handing out more licence suspensions and cuts as he comes down hard on breaches in maintenance regulations.
Chairman of the committee Dougie Chadwick says: "It's going to be a shock to the system in the North-West.
"Waterworth is warning operators, if you haven't got your house in order you're going to have to start doing so very quickly," he adds.
Chadwick supports the tougher line on enforcement: "Albu believed it was better to give someone a second chance—that might have been good for the time and for Albu but Waterworth has made it clear he has his own ways," says Chadwick.
Waterworth says cases are judged on their individual merits and commissioners follow the guidelines laid down by the senior commissioner.
But he adds: "Every commissioner is an individual and some are less inclined to take disciplinary action compared to others."