News

North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell has rejected DP Cold Planing's application to increase the authorisation on its O-licence, but granted the Chorley, Lancs-based firm permission for an additional operating centre.

The firm was seeking to increase its licence from six vehicles and four trailers to 10 vehicles and 10 trailers, as well as having a timing condition lifted.

After hearing of breaches of tachograph and drivers' hour rules, as well as breaching the condition that limits vehicle movements at the firm's operating centre between 11pm and 6am, Bell initially reserved her decision.

At a hearing last week, Bell refused the additional vehicles and trailers, but granted the additional operating centre at the Crosse Hall Industrial Estate, saying that she would keep the licence at six vehicles and four trailers for six months.

If at the end of six months the company is able to show compliance with the environmental conditions and the drivers' hours and tachograph rules, it will go up to 10 vehicles and 10 trailers. If it cannot show that compliance, then she will take the licence from the company.

Bell added that she thought it would be unfair to put the company out of business at  this time. It had been in business a long time and so far there had been no further breaches. The reason for the breaches had been business-related.