Langen loses licence appeal
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LANGEN International Haulage last week lost its appeal to have its standard operator's licence returned, after the Transport Tni. bunal decided that the company did not have a full-time trans. port manager at its UK base in Immingham.
The company set up operations in the UK in April 1982. After about three months oi business here the company saw that its transport manager was not doing his job properly and dismissed him. As Franz Langen, owner and manager of the Dutch-based company, held a Certiticate of Professional Competence he put himself down as the CPC holder for the Immingham depot.
A public inquiry was called for by the East Midland Licensing Authority in March 1983 at Nottingham at which it was discovered that Mr Langen was not permanently based at Immingham, a requirement of a transport manager, and could not be counted as one.
The licence was revoked, but Mr Langen asked for the licence to continue for two months to wind up operations in Immingham and move to a new base in Dover. This had not been granted by the LA.
The Tribunal pointed out to Mr Langen that he had been operating as normal since the public inquiry, and he could not have a further extension of time.
As the Immingham base must now be closed, Langen International will be moving to a base in Dover, if an 0-licence can be obtained from the South-Eastern LA.
In dismissing the appeal, Tribunal president John Inskip suggested Mr Langen seek professional advice for his future operations in the UK. Mr Langen replied that he had wanted to, but had been quoted prices of up to £2,000 per day for a solicitor's services and had decided to hold his own defence.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Langen said the company's future in the UK is now not certain. If the Southern-Eastern LA grants another 0-licence, Mr Langen will carry on where he left off. He will keep the operation at a slow pace to start with.
If all goes well, he hopes to set up an operating base similar to his existing operation in France.