New Operating Centre Approved and Vehicle Authorisation Tripled Despite Objections from Representors and Local Authority

The Operator in this matter, represented at Public Inquiry by barrister Harry Bowyer, wanted to operate from a new operating centre which was accessed down a shared unmade road. The representors lived in a house at the end of the lane and, understandably, did not fancy HGVs thundering down the lane past their house.  The local authority had concerns over the use of the lane as a footpath. The operator was sensitive to their concerns and was able to point out that owing to the nature of his business that the operating centre would actually be used less with larger trucks used less often and no subcontractor holding the operator to ransom as what time their trucks could appear for loading. The Traffic Commissioner approved the operating centre and granted the increase in authorisation as applied for subject to a number of undertakings.