Swift Games licensing
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By Chris Druce A FAST-TRACK O-licence process will be in place for the Games period to allow operators to seize commercial opportunities while remaining compliant.
Speaking at CM’s Summer Freight Planning Conference last week at Wembley Stadium, trafic commissioner (TC) for the western trafic area Sarah Bell (pictured right) said the temporary amendment had been approved by MPs.
Bell said the hard-won concession had been fought for by TCs on behalf of operators in recognition that the existing legislation made no provision for the unexpected.
“You have to advertise for a minimum of nine weeks [if you need to vary your licence],” said Bell. “So if things happen four weeks before [the Olympics] you couldn’t do anything.” Fast-track applications will come straight to Bell, removing the requirement to inform residents and the local council about licence variations.
The temporary changes will not need to be published in applications and decisions either.
“It is not in place of poor planning. This has got to be a last resort,” said Bell.
The full statutory document setting out the fast-track process is due to be published soon on the TC section of the Department for Transport website.