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I PVOA seeks protective amendments • The Passenger Vehicle Operators Association
Page 57
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is seeking many amendments to the Transport Bill. The list has been submitted to the Minister of State, MoT, with copies to both opposition parties, with a rider that the pa rts.of the Bill dealing with driver's hours and regulation of road traffic are still under consideration.
Purpose of the amendments suggested by the PVOA, with the support of the Northern Road Transport Owners Association, is to safeguard independent bus and coach operators and their employees.
The first requirement, therefore, is to ensure proper consultation with all existing operators before a PTA is brought into being, and before it is allowed to operate. At the same time, there are proposals to restrict the operation of services outside the PTA area to reasonable limits and the carrying on of activities not essential to its function.
In the case of a bus operator, the Association seeks to provide that his route in a PTA area may only be taken over (other than by volu ntary agreement) if it is quite impracticable for the operator to continue to run the services in the framework of the plan prepared by the Executive and the Authority.
If an operator should lose all or any part of his business to a PTA, then fair compensation is sought. The Association asks: in the case of a route being taken over, that the operator shall receive a severance payment and have the right to require the Executive to purchase any vehicle he no longer has use for.
To protect private hire operators, more precise requirements are put forward in respect of the operation of contract carriages by PTEs.
Among other things the PVOA looks for are the provision of investment grants on new p.s.v. which do not qualify for the new bus grant. A specific provision is sought that any operator—or other person—who is prejudiced by the action of a PTA in precepting on the rates, or the use made of the money obtained, shall have the right to make representations to the Minister.
The Ministry has been asked for further explanations regarding the practical application of Clause 30 of the Bill, regarding exemptions from road service licences.