AN ANDOVER company has laid off a number of staff after its vehicle operator licence was revoked.

Switch International, a vehicle operating company based in Mylen Road, has made drivers redundant and laid other employees off after the licence was removed.

The Advertiser spoke to a former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, who explained that members of staff were called back on Thursday, March 14, due to an 'operators issue' before being sent home early. 

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Andover Advertiser: Switch International in Andover

According to the staff member, they were then told that they would be given an explanation the following day, but were instead laid off without a reason, although it is alleged that the company was 'in dire straits' and had been 'in debt for a while'.

Switch International held a standard international licence, which allowed it to carry goods in the UK and internationally, which was revoked on March 14, says the employee, due to 'unpaid fees'.

He said: "The week previous, the trucks were taken off the road for 48 hours, fuel cards were removed and found to be non-operational.

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"On the Wednesday [March 13], the trucks went back on the road, and then on Thursday [March 15] the operations licence was revoked for unpaid fees.

"They took one driver on Monday, who was made redundant on Thursday."

The Advertiser spoke to Switch International, who confirmed that many employees had been laid off and that the operator's licence was revoked, however, did not wish to comment further.

Vehicle operators' licences, which are regulated by traffic commissioners, can be revoked for several reasons, including broken terms and conditions, not meeting health and safety conditions, being convicted of certain offences and being made bankrupt, liquidated or going into administration or receivership.