DoE examiner found School-bus coach in 'diabolical' condition violence
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
notices. Several of these defects were • On inspecting a 41-seat Bedford coach belonging to a Rotherham operator, a DoE vehicle examiner found it to be in a "diabolical" condition, having no less than 57 defects.
This was said in Leeds on Monday, when the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners held a public sitting to consider whether under the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1960, and the Transport Act 1968, grounds had been given to suspend or revoke any or all the licences held by Mr M. Trow, of 53 Crofton Drive, Boltonon-Dearne, Rotherham.
It was stated that Mr Trow, who was operating two coaches from his home on a council estate near Rotherham, had failed to carry out proper maintenance to his coaches and that he had not kept proper maintenance records.
In his evidence, Mr Brian Barrett, senior vehicle examiner, told the Commissioners that on July 23 this year he visited Mr Trow's home and carried out a maintenance investigation. No maintenance records could be produced and on examining the two coaches — which were usually kept on a parking lot at a local public house — he discovered numerous defects and issued both vehicles with immediate prohibition extremely bad and could have caused a serious road accident.
In defence, Mr Trow told the Commissioners that over the three years he had been operating he had spent hundreds of pounds on maintenance, but this had mainly been carried out by unskilled labour.
Since the examiner's investigation he had arranged for a Rotherham garage to maintain his coaches 1 and carry out regular maintenance inspections and he had started to keep proper maintenance records. Mr Trow went on to say that he was now employing two drivers, both semi-skilled fitters. He had several contracts for work and was earning a gross monthly income of £1600, Mr R. S. Thornton', the chairman of the Commissioners, said that there had been a definite improvement in Mr Trow's vehicle maintenance arrangements and announced that the Commissioners had decided to take no action against either of his licences. However, Mr Thornton told Mr Trow: "You have had a narrow escape," and warned him that the day's proceedings would be taken into consideration at any similar hearing in the future. • Five school buses from Llandudno Junction which were stopped on Monday because of schoolboy hooligans, were running again the following day. The Crosville Bus Co Ltd, which called on headmasters and police to help stamp out schoolboy violence, is confident of less trouble in the future.
Crosville. Caernarvon Education Authority and the police met on Monday in a bid to end the increasing acts of vandalism. A Transport Union spokesman had complained of boys lighting fires on seats, kicking out windows, spitting at conductors and refusing to pay fares.