Martin given great chance'
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• There has not been a bus war in South Wales since deregulation, said South Wales Traffic Commissioner John Mervyn Pugh at a Cardiff public inquiry last week; there has been a bus war in South Wales ever since buses began.
His comments came during disciplinary proceedings concerning John Martin (trading as Celtic Coaches (Wales) of Llanelli) who had admitted failing to operate local services as registered because he had become entangled in a "bus war" with South Wales Transport.
Mervyn Pugh, sitting with a financial assessor appointed by the Secretary of State, was also concerned about Martin's financial resources and the maintenance of his vehicles.
After being told that the system was to keep the same driver on the same bus, Mervyn Pugh suggested that it might be better to switch the drivers around, thus giving an opportunity for other drivers to notice faults.
For Martin, Stephen Donoghue said he was looking for an opportunity to prove himself. Martin was fully aware of the implications of having had cheques dishonoured. Stringent measures had been taken to improve the financial situation, and the overdraft had been reduced from £18,000 to 0,000. Martin had tightened his belt, and was now making his own decisions.
Prematurely terminating the licence so that it now expires in June 1989, Mervyn Pugh said he had faith that Martin could and would remain a good operator. Martin had had a tough time, and he was leaving him with a "great chance". When the licence fell due for renewal, there would be a further public inquiry with the financial assesor in attendance.
Mervyn Pugh said that in South Wales they believed in education rather than discipline, but operators could only be educated once; there was no second chance.