Bell promises effective, modern and fairer TCs
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By Roger Brown
BEVERLEY BELL says she is delighted to have been appointed senior traffic commissioner (STC) for Great Britain for the next four years. Bell, who has been acting STC since Philip Brown’s retirement last October, will continue as TC for the North West of England.
One of the urgent tasks Bell faced as acting STC was to work with fellow TCs to develop the first set of statutory STC directions and guidance documents that were issued in December 2011.
Bell says: “Although the introduction of the statutory guidance and directions provided greater clarity about the work of the TCs, there is still much work to be done in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Vosa and other government agencies.
“TCs want to ensure we maintain our effectiveness and success as regulators but also look at ways of modernising that regulation.” Bell says she wants to help continue to make Britain’s roads safer, make competition in the commercial vehicle industry fairer, and target seriously non-compliant operators effectively.
“This will require close working with Vosa, to outline the requirements of the regulator, and by extension the expectations of the industry,” she explains.
“I look forward to working with the CEO of Vosa to achieve the TCs’ mission statement of championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport.” The news follows the appointment in January of Nick Denton and Kevin Rooney as TCs for the South Eastern and metropolitan and North Eastern traffic areas respectively. Denton and Rooney took up their roles in the spring. Jack Semple, Road Haulage Association (RHA) policy director, says: “We welcome the appointment of Beverley Bell as STC.
“She knows the transport industry well, and as acting STC she has already demonstrated a commitment towards progressive regulation of the industry.” Theo de Pencier, Freight Transport Association chief executive, says Bell will be able to maintain the TCs’ independence.
l The responsibilities of the STC are set out by the Local Transport Act 2008. It allows the holder of the post to give guidance and general directions on a range of matters to fellow TCs in England, Scotland and Wales.