Revocation order quashed

The Transport Tribunal has quashed North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell's decision that the licence held by Stephen Hassall, trading as TJS Skip Hire, had automatically terminated due to non-payment of the renewal fee. The Traffic Area Office staff recommended reinstatement of the licence because Hassall had had to move from his correspondence address, resulting in non-receipt of mail for three months.

However, the TC declined to accept that recommendation, because she suspected a link with Cheshire Demolition, whose licence she had revoked.Allowing Hassall's appeal, the Tribunal said that if the TC had concerns about a possible connection with a revoked licence, Hassall could have been called to a public inquiry where the burden of proof would have been on the TC to establish a link.