'Every second word a condemnation'
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• Too many coaches being used in Scotland to carry workmen and school children were not being looked after adequately, and operators must realize their responsibilities. This was indicated by Mr A. B. Bimie, chairman of the Scottish Traffic Commissioners, in Glasgow on Monday, when Calder's Coaches of Forbes Street Glasgow appeared under Section 127(7) and Section 35.
Mr Thomas Calder, sole owner, said he now operated two vehicles and his problems in maintenance arose from difficulty in obtaining spares. He admitted that he did not keep records and in the course of his evidence it appeared that he did not undertake preventive maintenance. He admitted one delayed prohibition in August 1970, another in September 1970 and two immediate ones in July 1-971, these last being the cases in which the Commissioners were really interested. In the course of his evidence Mr Calder made a number of statements which led the chairman to say: "It appears to me that you condemn yourself with every second word you say."
A DoE vehicle examiner. Mr Stewart Graham, said he had had difficulty in making appointments to inspect the vehicles. Eventually he had inspected three and gave immediate prohibitions for two of them. In his opinion there was a lack of planned preventive maintenance. He got the impression that Calder waited to be told what was wrong with his vehicles and then put it right. The two vehicles he banned were in a very unroadworthy condition.
Giving his decision Mr Birnie said that the picture presented by these notices and the evidence was alarming. These vehicles had been used to the danger of the public, those travelling and other road users.
All the Commissioners were told was that the number of vehicles had been reduced to two and that these would now be inspected once a month. But for that last statement very severe action indeed would have been taken. They had to bring home to Mr Calder the risks he was running. There was too much of this going on, buses were being used and not being looked after. At present there were four vehicles with psv licences but Mr Calder had used only two for some time.
. The Commissioners would reduce the number of psv licences to two which would be no punislunent. The psv licence of one of the two would be suspended for four months from November to February. Nothing was to be done by way of any grant to this operator without reference to the Traffic Commissioners personally and when the psv licences became due for renewal in May 1972 there was to be a personal inspection of the application by himself.