The UK government has set a tight timescale for the implementation of new EU Regulations on operator licensing for buses, coaches and lorries, which are due to come into effect in early December.
The Statutory Instruments needed to bring into effect changes in UK law to implement the EU road package have been laid in Parliament at Westminster. They will permit certain relaxations of some rules and also include other necessary changes caused by the EC Regulation (1071/2009). In addition, two further regulations have been published with regard to Community licences in both the passenger and goods sectors.
Changes have also had to be made to the Senior Traffic Commissioner’s Statutory Guidance and Statutory Directions, the formal written consultation for which was published on November 9, with a very tight consultation closing date of November 22. This consultation addresses changes made in the Guidance and Directions brought about by the EC Regulation only. The changes are due to take effect from the December 4, 2011.
The changes were subject to consultation with industry earlier this year and the response can be found here. The public consultation is to be found here and is called the Public Consultation on Senior Traffic Commissioner’s Statutory Guidance and Statutory Directions.
