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' man neglected c ches
KENT coach operator Maurice Wells, who had been given only half an hour to live recently, has been told that one of his two coaches is to be suspended because it "has been neglected and not properly maintained." This was the ruling oi South East Traffic Commis sioner Randel Thornton at z public hearing in Eastbourm last week after Department 0. Transport inspector, Georg( Catford, claimed that hodcoaches had a series of faults.
On one coach, the emer ;ency door would not open. Mr Catford said that when le visited the firm, both oaches were parked on a ■ ublic car park, repairs were arried out in the street outide the owner's home and lectricity was supplied from a ..ngth of flex running from the louse.
He said there was no proision for drivers — mainly rivolved in school contract vork — to record vehicle Lefects and that repairs were arried out by part-time riechanics and the owner's on, who had little mechanical xperience.
Mr Wells of Andy Road outh, Greatstone, Kent, dmitted he was inexpermced in public service vehiles and that he had a lot to arn.
He said that he had been ery ill and that his son had een running the business. 'his had got on top of his son.
Partner in the business, his rife Jean Wells, told the Traf.c Commissioner her husband ad been seriously ill and at ne time doctors had given im only half an hour to live.
The Commissioner was told at one of the coaches had een taken off the road awaitig spares and that the second ehicle was doing about 70 'dies a day taking children to nd from school.
Both coaches had faults anging from broken lights, nderinflated tyres, broken eats and broken fittings with harp edges.
Mr Thornton said that the cence for one of the coaches Tould be left intact but the cence for the second vehicle, 'ready off the road, would be uspended until a certificate of tness was obtained.
He said that only when a ertificate was produced with vidence showing that proper laintenance facilities were vailable, would he reconsider ;suing a further licence.