Cowboy operators who lack good repute and 'phoenix' companies are finding it easier to slip into the haulage industry after Vosa centralised licensing operations to Leeds, according to a Traffic Commissioner. David Dixon describes the "lack of logic" in Vosa's decision to move its administrative work to one office in the recently published TC's report, which is notable for the widespread condemnation of the move.
The outgoing Welsh and
West Midlands TC says: "I believe that, as a direct consequence of the move, it is inevitable more operators who are potentially unsafe or lack good repute will get licences than used to be the case." Christopher Heaps, another TC due to retire as he wrote his review of the South-Eastern and Metropolitan Area, says centralising operations has been coupled with a transfer of decision-making powers from TCs to Vosa. He adds that, despite attempting to prevent this happening, "decisions were made in my name".
He says: "These actions have been described by [Vosa boss] Stephen Tetlow as 'minor errors' and he has even suggested Vosa staff were 'entrapped'." Heaps says that Tetlow has not responded to his requests to explain why he believes this is the case, and describes it as incompatible with legal advice provided to the Department for Transport.
A Vosa spokeswoman says the annual report reflects the situation at the time it was written, in 2006/07. Vosa wouldn't respond to Heaps'
allegations regarding Tetlow, but the spokeswoman adds: "Despite the initial teething problems with licensing applications the situation has improved significantly. Vosa and the Traffic Commissioners now have a Service Level Agreement, the quality of licence application submissions has improved and the Traffic Commissioners are now encouraged by the progress made by VOSA."
Six new deputy traffic commissioners have been appointed for the West Midlands, Welsh and Eastern Traffic Areas. They are Jim Astle, Miles Dorrington, Simon Evans, Tony Seculer, Marcia Davis and Gillian Ekins. All are solicitors or barristers.
