The O-licence held by Rikki Lee Powell, trading as Tempo Travel and based in Romsey, has been revoked with immediate effect by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) for the West of England, Fiona Harrington.
Rikki Powell was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for two years, as well as being disqualified from acting as a transport manager for two years.
The ruling follows an investigation into Rikki Powell’s businesses by the BBC’s Inside Out programme. It spoke to 13 clients and five companies who were owed money, and revealed that there were 59 unpaid county court judgements against him totalling £130,000.
The DTC concluded that the objectives of the licensing system, the protection of the public and fairness to other operators required her to make an order to disqualify Mr Powell.
She said: “Whether from lack of business acumen or ability, or other negligence, or from a lack of honesty and integrity, the facts remain that despite the history of previous business failings and public concerns and the trust afforded to him after a PI in 2013, the operator has failed in practice to carry on his business using the authority granted by this licence to operate in the manner expected of a capable, compliant and trustworthy operator, worthy of the trust of the TC (and thereby the travelling public).”
Miss Harrington added that her orders against Mr Powell demonstrated the regulatory consequences that can follow from non-compliance.
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