Refusal with request to apply
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by David Harris • One of the longest running 0-licence battles in Scotland entered another phase when Turriff Transport Consultants (TTC) was refused a licence but then invited to submit another application.
TTC was first refused an 0-licence last May by Scottish Traffic Commissioner Michael Betts on good repute grounds. TTC appealed to the Transport Tribunal in October and the case was referred back to be re-heard.
In February that re-hearing was adjourned in Aberdeen, hut last week in Edinburgh Senior Traffic Commissioner Ronald Ashford turned down the application because TTC is no longer operating from the operating centre on the application.
He said: "In these circumstances I have no choice to refuse the application as of the 1 May. That gives you 15 days to submit a new application, in which you will have to have the site you propose to use. An interim licence will apply in the meantime."
One of TTC's difficulties in obtaining a licence was the involvement of Billy Walker in the company. Walker, previously managing director of Kildonan Transport, was banned in 1994 from holding or obtaining an 0-licence for three years.
In Edinburgh last week, TTC company secretary Gareth Irons argued that although Walker was involved with TTC, he was neither a controlling shareholder nor a director.
Irons questioned if it was possible to ban Walker from being transport manager, arguing that legislation only allowed for disqualification as owner or director.