
The traffic commissioner for the South East has branded a Kent scaffolding operator as having an “indefensible licensing history” after it was disqualified in 2019 but continued operating trucks.
WBM South East applied to run three lorries out of a Smeeth operating centre, despite its directors Julian Drage and Westley Brown having been disqualified for an indeterminate period five years ago for their involvement in WBM Scaffolding.
At that time, TC Sarah Bell found the men to be dishonest, disingenuous and disengaged after their previous business was found to have operated HGVs unlawfully and performed unsafe practices.
She expressed frustration that despite the revocation of their licence and their disqualification, they continued applying for a new operator licence, as well as running HGVs without any authority.
Liquidator reports for WBM Scaffolding revealed its assets were sold to WBM South East in a pre-pack arrangement, but only a fraction of the amount agreed was paid.
At a recent PI to discuss its application for a new licence, Drage admitted to the TC that they had continued operating trucks when they were disqualified in order that they could try and raise the money to pay the liquidator for the assets.
In her written decision, TC Bell said: “The directors have built the business of WBM South East by failing to pay for the very assets they were using to launch the new business.
“WBM South East is founded on disingenuous behaviours to the detriment of those left owing by WBM Scaffolding and its ongoing competitors.”
Drage told the TC he had a whole new approach to life now as the company was becoming a family business with him and Brown having sons in the firm.
He also said his knowledge had improved, but the TC said when she asked him what he had done and what he had read it was “a lot of waffle”.
The licence application was refused, however she added: “Mr Drage now knows what I have come to learn of his acts and omissions since 2019 and the impact it has and will continue to have on WBM South East until I am satisfied that he is finally committed to doing things properly at every level.
“It is for that reason alone that I have lifted the disqualification in relation to him.”