News

An operator seeking to increase his licence authority was successful after his father withdrew a separate application. The Traffic Commissioner had suspected it might be linked to an attempt to use his son's licence if his own application was refused. In granting additional vehicles to Morecambe-based Hancock Contractors, the North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell also emphasised the need for operators employing foreign drivers to ensure that they understood and complied with drivers'  hours and tachograph regulations.

The TC's comments came after evidence that the company employed three Polish and three Latvian drivers as well as British drivers. Hancock's director Jamie Hancock confirmed that the foreign drivers spoke satisfactory English. Jamie Hancock was seeking to increase his licence authority from 10 to 12 vehicles.

His father Stephen, whose previous licence was revoked in March 2001, had sought a new three vehicle restricted licence. The TC was concerned whether the company's variation application was genuine and not designed to circumvent any order she might make refusing Stephen Hancock's application. Stephen Hancock subsequently withdrew his licence application.

The first day of the hearing was adjourned because the company was working on salvaging the ferry vessel that had run aground at Blackpool. In granting the application, the TC warned that the company needed to be robust in its arrangements for ensuring full O-licence compliance.  The withdrawal of the licence application by the father set the TC's mind at rest because she had been concerned about the family connections.