Licence Continues After Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry Fronting Concerns

Laura Newton represented an Operator company, who was suspected of providing a front for another business, which had gone into administration resulting in licence revocation. As facts in the case had not be apparent until after the new licence was granted, the background had not been properly explored by the Licencing Team upon application. Therefore, the Operator had to show the Traffic Commissioner that there had been no deliberate withholding of information and that the current arrangement was a genuine separate business. It was considered to be a ‘front’ or a Phoenix for the previous company and its former directors, the Traffic Commissioner indicated that this would have been an immediate revocation and disqualification. We were able to present a well prepared case supported by evidence to allay the Traffic Commissioner’s concerns and suspicion. The Licence was permitted to continue with no regulatory action.