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TCs take legal advice over DM 0-licensing shake-up
Page 10
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The Traffic Commissioners are concerned about 'fundamentally flawed'
plans to centralise 0-licence applications. David Harris reports.
THE TRAFFIC Commissioners are considering legal action against the Department for Transport over proposed changes to the 0-licensing system.
The TCs are taking legal advice on whether plans to centralise 0-licence applications to Leeds are legal:IC Christopher Heaps has already brought forward his retirement from September next year to April in protest at the changes. which he describes as fundamentally flawed.
leaps, who isIC for the South
East and Metropolitan area, says: "If all this were being put into place under primary legislation. I could have no argument with it — but that isn't what is happening here.
If the licensing staff are based in Leeds I don't see how I can be satisfied on the matters that I need to he satisfied about."
Even if requested files are sent to TCs it would not solve the problem.Heaps warns,"because won't know what I haven't seen".
He believes the move to Leeds will mean that Vosa. rather than the TCs. will become the "de facto licensing authority".
Heaps adds that it is important for the TCs to maintain their independence and have immediate access to all the files relating to 0-licence applications: All the other TCs share my concerns about this, although perhaps none has been as vociferous as me.
"I think it is very sad that a system that has worked pretty well for 75 years should not be allowed to continue."