A Hampshire goods vehicle operator's licence has been revoked following a public inquiry into repeated regulatory failures. Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington made the decision on June 3, citing "a litany of failures" by Hampshire Group Southern Ltd and its sole director, Vicky Steere, to engage with the regulator.
The company was granted its restricted operator's licence in July last year under a specific condition: one of its directors must complete an approved course and provide proof of attendance. However, this undertaking has been breached, and no satisfactory explanation has been offered for the non-compliance.
Documents reveal that the operator consistently failed to respond adequately to regulatory communications, despite numerous reminders, warning letters, and a formal Request for Explanation from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC). Even during the inquiry, key questions remained unanswered, leading Commissioner Dorrington to conclude that the company has not cooperated with the regulator.
The operator's lack of preparation was evident in the Public Inquiry, where essential maintenance and drivers' hours records were not submitted prior to the hearing. A significant portion of requested evidence was also missing on the day of the inquiry itself, highlighting the company's broader issues with regulatory engagement.
Commissioner Dorrington described this case as unusual, stating that it centred on the operator's failure to cooperate rather than evidence from DVSA investigations. He expressed "no confidence or trust" in the operator's ability to comply with the licensing regime and concluded that the business is no longer fit to hold an operator's licence.
The licence revocation will take effect at 23:45 on August 2, along with proposed two-year disqualification orders against the company and Mrs Steere. These will commence unless a hearing is requested by July 13 to contest the decision.