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Cowan Plant, the operator disqualified from Fors last year, has lost an appeal against the decision to revoke its O-licence.

The Hayes, Middlesex-based company had its Fors membership taken away by TfL in December following a public inquiry (PI) that resulted in the loss of its O-licence and the disqualification of transport manager Fiona McLeod.

The sanctions had been due to come into effect on 1 January but were delayed after the company appealed the decision.

Following the latest hearing, the Upper Tribunal has ordered that this now be effective from 18 June.

The PI, which took place in November 2014, was told that the company had racked up a number of mechanical prohibitions, used a trailer without a valid test certificate, allowed a driver to drive a vehicle without the required licence to do so, and operated a vehicle not specified on its O-licence.

The company had previously been warned about its compliance at a separate PI in 2013, when it had its authorisation curtailed from eight vehicles to four for 21 days. Deputy traffic commissioner (TC) for London and the South East John Baker also warned that McLeod’s repute had been tarnished.

Considering the operator’s appeal against the most recent decision, the Upper Tribunal found that deputy TC Baker had been right to revoke its O-licence at the second PI.

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