Vosa says it is experiencing a backlog in some areas of its licensing work following its controversial move to centralise operations in Leeds. The admission follows unrest among operators that their licence applications are taking far too long to be dealt with by the government agency. One haulier has told CM it took more than 10 weeks before his application to run two vehicles and two trailers was processed.
The Barking, London-based operator, who
wishes to remain anonymous, says he was told by Vosa that it was working flat out to deal with applications. He adds that another haulier he knows who applied for an O-licence as far back as February got the go-ahead only last week. He says: "It was the first time I had applied. The paperwork went to the Traffic Area Office in Eastbourne, then went to Leeds. That's where it went pear-shaped. I've lost money on it and nearly lost the work I got from a shipping company."
Vosa says the move to Leeds "has resulted in a short-term backlog in certain areas of licensing work and [we] are currently working hard to address this". It adds that it has set itself a target that 85% of unopposed applications will be determined within nine weeks. A spokesman says the reason for moving operator licensing processing to Leeds is to deliver "improved services to the industry and consistency in the way applications are handled".
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