Discount retailer Poundworld, which was convicted of tachograph offences earlier this year, has been granted an interim increase in its O-licence authorisation.

North East traffic commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney (pictured) considered Poundworld Retail’s application for the variation at a public inquiry (PI) on 5 November.

Poundworld Retail was called before the TC after the company, its transport manager and 12 drivers were convicted in May and June of making false records or failing to use a tachograph.

A DVSA investigation discovered that the company lost focus on compliance in the run-up to Christmas 2014 and had failed to download and analyse tachograph records.

The TC said that at the PI the company had demonstrated a commitment to getting the transport side of the business right, and he was satisfied that it now had robust systems in place to monitor drivers’ hours and tachographs.

Poundworld Retail was granted an interim authorisation for 65 vehicles and 100 trailers at a site on the Normanton Industrial Estate, Normanton, West Yorkshire.

It had applied to increase its authorisation to 75 vehicles and 100 trailers, and this will be considered at another PI in March 2016, subject to the result of a full systems audit by a trade association in February.

The operator has received a formal warning from the TC. Transport manager Michael Severn’s repute is damaged, but intact.

Mark Heathershaw will be accepted as an additional transport manager for the operator once a formal application is made.

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