Licence delayed applicant absent
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE METROPOLITAN Traffic Commissioners have refused to hear applications for licences to operate four London sightseeing tours by Philip Roberts, trading as Sovereign Limousine Hire of Liverpool, because the applicant was absent.
Mr Roberts had applied for licences for circular tours — London and River Thames, London and the Changing of the Guard; London and Tower of London; and round-London sightseeing — to be operated daily. He was opposed by Evan Evans Tours,
the.Metropolitan Police, the City of Westminster Engineering Department and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The Commissioner's chairman, Anthony Robertson, said Mr Roberts was not there to present his case and the application forms had been signed by someone else on his behalf.
Peter Gardner claimed that he had bought the business from Mr Roberts, who was now acting as his transport manager. He said that Mr Roberts was on holiday and unable to attend the public sitting. He agreed that he personally was not a holder of a psv operator's licence. Adjourning the hearing for Mr Roberts to attend to give evidence, Mr Robertson said the Commissioners could not consider the applications in the absence of the applicant which was Mr Roberts and not Mr Gardner.
Licences to operate sightseeing excursions to Windsor and to Richmond for a boat trip to Hampton Court were granted, however, to Kenneth Cranthorne, trading as K-Line Coaches. But there was a condition that a qualified guide be carried in addition to the driver. This followed an objection from London Country Bus Services.
Objections from the Metropolitan Police and the City of Westminster Engineering Department were met by a number of route amendments.