EVENING and Sunday bus services in England and Wales could
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be in jeopardy, National Bus Company chief executive Robert Brook has warned.
This could be a major effect of the introduction of EEC Regulation 543/69, Mr Brook says. His warning comes just before the EEC Council of Ministers meets to decide if the UK should adopt the regulation or be granted a reasonable period of deferment.
Introduction of the regulation would reduce the number of hours a driver could be available and would, therefore, mean the employment of extra drivers, Mr Brook says.
"There is no doubt that many of our companies could be faced with having to consider cutting evening and Sunday services altogether if they are to comply with the full regulation", he continues.
NBC would have considerable difficulty in recruiting extra drivers in some places, so there would be a reduction in services especially in rural areas, Mr Brook adds.
Another damaging consequence of the regulation would be on operating costs, which, for NBC, would be £40 million annually.
"Everyone is fearful about the impact of the regulation on our industry, upon those who work in it and, above all, our passengers" Mr Brook warns.