(1)The operating centre of any authorised vehicle under a goods vehicle operator’s licence granted under Part V of the M1Transport Act 1968 shall be the base or centre at which it is normally kept (whether or not it is also normally used from there); and accordingly, in section 92(1) of that Act (interpretation of Part V), for the definition of “operating centre” there shall be substituted the following definition—
““operating centre”, in relation to any vehicle, means the base or centre at which the vehicle is normally kept, and references to an operating centre of the holder of an operator’s licence are references to any place which is an operating centre for authorised vehicles under the licence”.
(2)The provisions set out in Part I of Schedule 4 to this Act (which establish control by licensing authorities under Part V of the M2Transport Act 1968 over—
(a)the places which may be used as operating centres for authorised vehicles under goods vehicle operators’ licences granted under that Part of that Act; and
(b)the use to which any such centre may be put for authorised vehicles under any operator’s licence so granted;
with a view to preventing or minimising any adverse effects on environmental conditions arising from the situation of any such centres or from their use as mentioned in paragraph (b) above) shall be inserted in Part V of that Act immediately after section 69.
(3)Part II of Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of making amendments of the provisions of the Transport Act 1968 relating to goods vehicle operators’ licences supplementing the provisions set out in Part I of that Schedule, and for the purpose of extending the right to object to or make representations against the grant or variation of such licences to certain authorities, other than local authorities, exercising planning functions.