Operator loses repute after 'B******s to EU rules' rant

A Traffic Commissioner has stripped an operator of his repute, saying the sort of language he used in an interview with a VOSA official "summed up his approach" to compliance.

In a written decision following a public inquiry in May, Western area TC Sarah Bell, ruled that Christopher Muir, director of Hungerford, Berks-based BRT Horse Transport International, could not be nominated as transport manager in any traffic area from 30 July.

On 6 December 2009, a prohibition had been issued against BRT, for failure to use a tachograph on a vehicle.

However, according to Bell, a "perfectly reasonable question" at interview under caution by a VOSA traffic examiner, had resulted in Muir responding "B*****ks to EU rules."

The TC said: "Whilst Mr Muir apologised for the use of language at the public inquiry, in my judgement it sums up his approach to compliance."

Another document compiled by a VOSA vehicle examiner found that many preventive maintenance inspection sheets for company vehicles did not show brake tests and/or tyre tread depths.

"The reports of the vehicle examiner and traffic examiner taken separately and together demonstrate a blatant disregard for the operator licensing regime," Bell added.

The TC, who also revoked BRT's licence, said the findings of the VOSA officers made "unedifying reading" and described Muir's answers to her questions at the inquiry as "disingenuous".

In a separate O-licence application heard at the same time, J&B Horse Transport was granted authorisation for one vehicle, with the condition that Christopher Muir could not act as its nominated transport manager.