Schools minibus carriers fined
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• Two Staffordshire minibus operators were fined nearly £1,000 last week after they admitted carrying schoolchildren without a licence.
Bernard Owen (trading as Flight Courtesy Transport of St Vincent Road in Walton, Stone) and Christopher Cheadle (trading as Chris Cars, of Woodlands Avenue also in Walton, Stone) both admitted using a public service vehicle without a PSV operator's licence or insurance. Cheadle admitted driving the schoolbus without a PSV driving licence.
On 27 April 1988, a vehicle owned and driven by Owen had been stopped with children on board. Owen had admitted that it was being used on a regular basis, and that despite reducing the number of seats to eight, the children were being carried at separate fares for hire or reward. He told the court that he had made enquiries about applying for an operator's licence, but had not pursued the matter. He admitted that he had even insured the schoolbus for private hire only.
When Owen had had too much work he had passed it on to Cheadle, West Midlands Traffic Area prosecutor Patrick McKnight told the court. On 26 April, a 12-seater owned and driven by Cheadle had been stopped while carrying eight children to Newcastle High School. Cheadle had admitted carrying the children on a number of occasions at separate fares. He had admi ted that he was not the hold of a PSV driving licence eith and that the insurance had o been valid if the vehicle was driven by a qualified driver. had said that he had made e: quiries about applying for a PSV operator's licence, but had been told that the vehicl concerned was unsuitable.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates fined Owen £45 with £85 costs; and Cheadle £350 with £80 costs.