BRIEFS Review is set up quickly
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• A \Vest Wales haulier, whose licence was revoked with a six month disqualification order, succeeded in persuading South Wales Traffic Commissioner John Mervyn Pugh to review his decision at a hastily arranged public inquiry the following day.
Lynne Rees, of Capel Hendre, Ammanford, had been called before the TC after being fined £1,800 by Bridgend magistrates for taking insufficient weekly rest and driving for more than 4.5 hours without the required break. Rees said he was paying the fine off by instalments.
Mervyn Pugh that such an arrangement threw doubt on Rees' financial standing.
Revoking the licence, and making the disqualification order, Mervyn Pugh said the offences were some of the most serious there could be: public safety was most important and tired drivers were as dangerous as drunk drivers.
When told he could appeal against the decision, Rees replied that he would not bother, but the next day he had a change of heart. He told the TC that he now realised the seriousness of what had occurred and he had paid the outstanding balance of the fine, some £1,350, He asked for interim authority to operate two vehicles and two trailers.
Indicating that this would be granted once a copy of the required newspaper advertisement was received, Mervyn Pugh said he was able to take that decision because Rees had a good maintenance record. He had also taken into consideration a reference from BOC.
The application for a full licence will be considered at a further public inquiry.