One year blow for Citibus
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• Following chronic maintenance problems, the PSV operators licence held by Citibus of Manchester has only been renewed for 12 months by North Western Licensing Authority Martin Alhu. The LA authorised the company to operate 16 vehicles, instead of its previous 12 — but not the 20 it asked for.
Citibus was warned about its maintenance standards at a public inquiry in 1986. Vehicle examiner Martin Hamer said that in December 1987 he ex
amined eight vehicles before issuing five prohibition notices for five dangerous defects and 13 slightly less dangerous items. The vehicles were in poor condition despite having been extensively prepared for his inspection.
Citibus secretary and director Martin Wild denied that the vehicles had been specially prepared for the vehicle examiner's visit.
The employment of a fulltime electrian now meant there were few electrical faults on the vehicle, she argued, and Citibus planned to take on two more fitters, and a second operations manager. The company had tendered for a subsidised service that would require four vehicles and it hoped to register further commercial services, said Wild.
Citibus chairman and managing director Roger Green said the company would be looking for additional income to take care of the extra personnel. In the 18 months since deregulation it had cleared a massive overdraft and had expanded.
Albu said that it was a very difficult case in that, despite a previous warning and inquiries, the company was still found to have problems over maintenance at the end of 1987. Citibus did appear to be operating successfully, however, and he was reluctant to prevent that as long as it did not imperil the public. He felt that increasing
the authorisation to 16 vehicles would allow for some expansion. There would, however, be a further maintenance investigation before the next renewal, and Albu warned that he would want to see a properly audited set of accounts.