Class 1 difficulty
Page 28
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HAVING LOST my right eye in a car accident in 1975, I believed I was exempt from holding an hgv Class I licence owing to my infirmity.
I am now 23 years old and have been in the haulage industry for seven years, initially as an apprentice fitter and latterly as an assistant transport manager. Recently, I was told by a local RTITB official that the Board had had other driving trainees through its school with the same disability, so obviously they had applied, for, and been granted, a provisional licence from their local Licensing Authority.
I therefore applied for a licence to my local Authority, my own doctor stating in the medical section of the application form that my left eye had a perfect 6/6 vision rating. But this application was refused on the grounds that I did not have a specified amount of vision in both eyes —which, of course, I do not dispute.
I have submitted an appeal against this decision and was wondering whether any readers can shed any light on the way I should conduct my appeal so as to get a favourable verdict — perhaps someone has been in the same situation and could possibly advise my solicitor and myself on how to conduct my appeal. Might I just add that the reason I need my hgv Class 1 is my brother has offered me the chance of buying a partnership in his haulage business, but this offer depends on my having a Class 1 licence.
D. 0. SMITH Kendal, Cumbria