Two new traffic commissioners have been appointed by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Tim Blackmore OBE and Simon Evans will be traffic commissioners for the North East and the North West respectively and will take up their new roles from May 2017.

Traffic commissioners are responsible for the regulation of bus, coach and goods vehicle operators, and registration of local bus services. Where appropriate, they can call operators to a public inquiry to examine concerns about vehicle and driver safety. They also deal with professional drivers at conduct hearings.

Colonel Tim Blackmore currently heads the British Forces Post Office and was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Transport in 1992. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics and the Chartered Management Institute.

Simon Evans is currently a Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England and Independent Member (Chair) of the Parole Board for England and Wales. He was previously a Fee Paid Judge on the Social Entitlement Chamber and a Lay Member (Chair) of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practice Panel.

Tim Blackmore will fill the post vacated by Kevin Rooney, who took over the West of England in October 2016. Simon Evans will replace Beverley Bell when she steps down in Spring 2017.

The Secretary of State has also appointed 4 new deputy traffic commissioners:

• Mark Hinchliffe as Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North East of England
• Jayne Salt as Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England
• Laura Thomas as Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the East of England
• Hugh Olson in Scotland