Tribunal challenges DLA's revocation
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AN operator who had his licence revoked for not informing the Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority that he was changing the site of his warehouse, has had his case referred back to the DLA by the Transport Tribunal.
In referring the case back for further consideration, the Tribunal allowed him to carry on using his licence.
Bruce Whitehair, trading as Whiteheads, moved from his warehouse at Southend to one at Shoeburyness. He rented the 22-acre site at Aronmoss Farm, using the barns as a garage for the vehicles, and employed M&T Motors of Falk Bay, Broadway, to carry out maintenance checks on his fleet. Mr Whitehair had not informed the DLA as everything happened so fast. The site became available and he snapped it up as quickly as possible, he said.
When the DLA heard he had done this, a public inquiry was held. Mr Whitehair did not attend, because of a family bereavement but the DLA carried on with the inquiry in his absence.
His licence was revoked, but the Transport Tribunal granted a stay on this decision at a hearing on April 16.
The Tribunal was worried that the Whitehair's office was too far away from the warehouse site. The two and a half mile distance would perhaps hinder communications between office management and the lorry drivers.
Mr Whitehead explained that the company was a family business. His father-in-law lived next door to the office and his brother lived in the same area. As they were the two drivers, there was never any trouble in organising journeys.
He pointed out that he had had professional advice from John Billingham, a traffic consultant, about where he should place his office. The office has since been inspected by the DLA, along with the maintenance procedures, he told the Tribunal.