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Welsh TC lambasts VOSA for Lack of local presence

21st January 2010
Page 10
Page 10, 21st January 2010 — Welsh TC lambasts VOSA for Lack of local presence
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dominic.perryfarbi.co.uk THE WELSH Traffic Commissioner. Nick Jones, delivered a stinging rebuke to VOSA for its lack of spending and presence in large areas of the principality, which, he says, is creating a two-tier regulatory system for operators.

Jones' comments came in a written decision following a disciplinary public inquiry for Dolgellau. Gwynedd operators Geraint Rogers Davies and Richard Ekon Davies, who trade as RR Davies AL Fei bon.

During the inquiry, it transpired that all those attending, including traffic examiner Nia Wyn Lloyd, spoke Welsh as their first language. As a result, Lloyd was required to act as a translator for the operators. It also emerged that, despite holding an 0-licence since 1993, the company had not received a visit from VOSA until last year.

Jones had previously raised the issue of a lack of operator seminars in the Welsh Traffic Area, both in Welsh and in English, in his TC's report for 2008-09, which he says has caused low levels of operator compliance in north Wales.

In the same report, he noted that VOSA's decision to concentrate resources on the ASS and M4 corridors was leaving a hole in its coverage, particularly in midand north Wales.

In his written decision, he adds: "The fact that the [operator's] noncompliance with drivers' hours rules remained undetected for a substantial period of time is an indication of the lack of VOSA presence in the area."

He said his impact as the Welsh TC was being "undermined" because of the lack of regulatory education provided by VOSA.

Jones adds: "The lack of operator seminars in English is a concern. The fact that there have never been any operator seminars, to my knowledge, in the Welsh language has contributed to the two-tier system that appears to exist whereby parts of Wales have lower standards as a result of lower levels of intervention."

Jones describes the operators as "hard-working individualswho had been "let down by the lack of VOSA presence in rural Wales".

The tacho offences uncovered at the public inquiry merited a month-long licence cut to three vehicles and three trailers, along with the operators agreeing to a number of undertakings.

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