Emergency door of bus did not open easily, Traffic Commissioners told
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• Mouldy biscuits and discoloured apple cores were found behind the seats in a John Kane of Lesmahagow bus by vehicle inspectors making a check on January 17. This was part of a generally dirty condition of vehicles, and part of a show-case appearance this week in Glasgow. Mr P. Harper, senior vehicle examiner, said that three of six vehicles were examined, all in very poor condition, and that one immediate PSV71 notice and one delayed were issued.
Mr Harper reported finding difficulty in opening the emergency door, and that he found the fire extinguisher empty and seats dust laden.
The immediate prohibition was in respect of a vehicle not on Kane's list and it was indicated in evidence that this had been a hire from Wolverhampton.
Mr James Law for the firm said that the company did dirty contract work, suffered from school pupil vandalism and that the main defects were in respect of the vehicle hired from Wolverhampton. This had been given to Kane with a warranty that it was in first-class condition.
Mr Kane said that he had applied to increase his fleet from four to seven in July and had applied in the interim for additional vehicles but had got only substitutes. He had paid £12.10 for each of seven psv licences but had only for four. Fees were asked for and fees were paid but nothing had been done about the issue of licences.
Mr Law said they must look beyond the immediate complaint and ask about the overall position. Cleanliness was a common problem to all doing contract work and one had only to look at Corporation buses in that connection. He could not understand why licences had not been issued following Kane's appearance last year when his authorization had been increased to seven. Had he been allowed to take up all the vehicles authorized this might not have happened since he would have had vehicles to spare.
Mr A. B. Birnie, chairman of the Commissioners, said they defer their decision. There were points which needed clarification and in particular they wanted to know what had happened regarding the applications to Edinburgh and the fees paid.