3perator kept goin
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N OPERATOR who lost his Operator's licence earlier this year, but ontinued to operate three vehicles to keep up hire-purchase lyments and provide work for employees, lost an appeal at the ansport Tribunal to win back his 0-licence.
Mercia Tansport of Kingswinrd, West Midlands, applied for renewal of its 0-licence to the 'est Midlands Licensing Jthority in February. This was yt granted, owing to a query ter the company's financial ending, and the LA decided to )Id a hearing in June. In April Mercia Transport owner Mr P. Spittle applied for an interim licence and was refused. He did not know he had the right to appeal and so just let matters lie, the Tribunal was told.
He continued to operate three vehicles to keep the company solvent until the hearing. Closing down the operation until then would have resulted in the company going out of business, Mr Spittle said.
At the June hearing, matters proceeded haphazardly, he said, as he did not have all the relevant details of his company's affairs with him. He was expecting questions regarding good repute and was caught unawares when the LA asked him what he was doing with his vehicles.
The LA adjourned the hearing until August when the same question about the whereabouts of his vehicles was asked. Mr Spittle had not been advised to bring information on vehicle movements and so was again unable to answer.
The LA reserved his decision until September, when he decided to revoke Mercia's 0 licence. Mr Spittle said that he was not allowed to give details of mitigating circumstances.
He told the Tribunal that everything about the company was in order, except the fact that it was operating without an 0licence. He should have appealed immediately to allow the company to continue operating, but was unaware of the procedures and so failed to do this.
In dismissing the appeal, the Tribunal said it would give its reasons in writing at a later date.