Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

Review of operating centresN.I.

Periods of review for operating centresN.I.

27—(1) Within such time after any period of review as may be prescribed, the Department may serve a notice [F1on the holder of a heavy goods vehicle licence] stating that the Department is considering whether to exercise any of its powers under sections 28 and 29 in relation to a place specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder.

(2) The periods of review in relation to [F2a heavy goods vehicle] licence are—

(a)the period of 5 years beginning with the date specified in the licence as the date on which it came into force; and

(b)each consecutive period of 5 years.

(3) Regulations may amend subsection (2) by substituting a higher or lower number for the number of years for the time being specified in paragraphs (a) and (b).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1S. 27 in operation at 22.6.2012 for specified purposes by S.R. 2012/247, art. 2, Sch.

I2S. 27 in operation at 1.7.2012 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2012/262, art. 2 (with arts. 4-6)

Power to remove operating centres on reviewN.I.

28—(1) If, having served notice under section 27 in respect of a place specified in [F3a heavy goods vehicle] licence, the Department determines that the place is unsuitable—

(a)on grounds other than environmental grounds, or

(b)on the ground mentioned in subsection (2),

for use as an operating centre of the licence-holder, the Department may (subject to subsection (3)) direct that the place cease to be specified in the licence.

(2) The ground referred to in subsection (1)(b) is that the parking of [F4heavy goods] vehicles used under the licence at or in the vicinity of the place causes adverse effects on environmental conditions in that vicinity.

(3) Where the only ground for giving a direction under subsection (1) is the ground mentioned in subsection (2), the Department may not give such a direction unless during the period of review in question representations were made to the Department—

(a)by such a person as is mentioned in section 11(2), or

(b)by a person who is the owner or occupier of any land in the vicinity of the place in question,

as to the unsuitability of the place on environmental grounds for continued use as an operating centre for [F5heavy goods] vehicles used under any [F6heavy goods vehicle] licence.

(4) Representations made by a person such as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) shall be disregarded for the purposes of this section if, when they were made, any adverse effects on environmental conditions arising from the continued use of the place in question would not have been capable of prejudicially affecting the use or enjoyment of the land mentioned in that paragraph.

(5) Any representations under this section—

(a)shall be made in the prescribed manner; and

(b)shall contain particulars of any matters alleged by the person making the representations to be relevant to the issue to which they relate;

but where the Department considers there to be exceptional circumstances that justify its doing so, the Department may direct that representations be treated for the purposes of this Act as duly made under this section notwithstanding that they were not made in the prescribed manner or within the period of review in question.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3S. 28 in operation at 22.6.2012 for specified purposes by S.R. 2012/247, art. 2, Sch.

I4S. 28 in operation at 1.7.2012 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2012/262, art. 2 (with arts. 4-6)

Power to attach conditions on reviewN.I.

29—(1) If, having served notice under section 27 in respect of a place specified in [F7a heavy goods vehicle] licence, the Department does not give a direction in respect of the place under section 28, it may direct—

(a)that conditions (or additional conditions) such as are mentioned in section 20(1)(a), (b) or (c) be attached to the licence;

(b)that any conditions already attached to the licence under section 20(1)(a), (b) or (c) be varied.

(2) Any conditions attached to the licence under subsection (1)(a) shall relate or, in the case of conditions such as are mentioned in section 20(1)(b), shall only require the Department to be informed of events that relate—

(a)only to the place referred to in subsection (1), or

(b)only to that place and any other places in respect of which the Department has power to attach conditions under that subsection.

(3) Any variation under subsection (1)(b) shall be such as imposes new or further restrictions or requirements—

(a)only in relation to the place referred to in subsection (1), or

(b)only in relation to that place and any other places in respect of which the Department has power to attach conditions under that subsection.

(4) Where the Department gives a direction in respect of [F8a heavy goods vehicle] licence under section 28 or subsection (1)(a), it may also vary the licence by directing—

(a)that any [F9heavy goods] vehicle cease to be specified in the licence;

(b)that any maximum number [F10of heavy goods vehicles] specified in the licence under section 5 be reduced;

(c)that a provision [F11relating to heavy goods vehicles] such as is mentioned in section 4(2) be included in the licence;

(d)that a provision [F12relating to heavy goods vehicles] such as is mentioned in section 5(1)(b) or (2)(b) be included in the licence.

(5) In this Act any reference, in relation to [F13a heavy goods vehicle] licence, to a condition attached to the licence under section 20(1)(a), (b) or (c) includes reference to any condition such as is mentioned in section 20(1)(a), (b) or (as the case may be) (c) attached to the licence under subsection (1)(a).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5S. 29 in operation at 1.7.2012 by S.R. 2012/262, art. 2 (with arts. 4-6)