Horrifying' bus fleet iapped by Commissioner
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COACH operator's fleet was a "horrifying" condition, chairman of the South Iles Traffic Commissioners, Ronald Jackson, said last ek.
Vlorlais Services Limited, of nydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, e of the oldest coach firms in uth Wales, appeared at Carr to say why their licence )uld not be suspended or curled.
Mr Richard Leaice, clerk to Commissioners, said the mpany was before the Cornssioners in April and two hides were then suspended for three months. In June and July, a fleet inspection was made and all 22 remaining vehicles attracted defectnotices.
There was a total of 280 defects. Maintenance facilities were almost non-existent, records were not properly kept, and no one would admit responsiblity for keeping a vehicle off the road. One vehicle which crashed had not been inspected since April and had covered 8,000 miles in the meantime. But the crash was not due to any of the defects it had. Mr Peter Morgan, solicitor for the company, said the chairman and one of the directors were the widows of former directors, and the working members of the board had difficulty in implementing the improvements called for by the Commissioners previously. A firm of consultant engineers were now being employed to improve matters, Suspending four vehicles and removing from the licence three others which were being "cannibalised" for spares, the chairman of the Commission ers said: "The situation revealed by the fleet inspection is described as appalling.
"In fact, it is worse—it is horrifying, because at any time any one of those vehicles could have been involved in a very serious accident. I am sure the Commissioners •are not alone when they say they are very conscious of the fact that there have been five or six very serious accidents this year— more than ever before—involving public service vehicles."
He ordered a further inspection in six months' time.