Authorisation reduced from 16 to 13 vehicles, though operator accepts findings and vows to improve
Renfrew-based operator Colchri Ltd has had its O-licence authorisation curtailed from 16 to 13 by Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitkin, due to the poor state of its vehicles.
Company director Anthony Morrin, who appeared at a public inquiry in Edinburgh last October, and fellow director Karen Dolan, were criticised in a written report by Ms Aitken following mechanical inspections at the firm’s site at Westway Development.
A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiner found that doors on buses were jammed and could not be opened by the driver, a steering axle was worn beyond the legal limit, there was excessive wear of kingpin/bushes which made them likely to affect steering or fail prematurely, and an exhaust system on one of the vehicles was ‘practically falling off.’
Concerns were also expressed by the DVSA over poor record keeping, missed inspections, unrectified driver defects, higher than average fail rates for inspection and the lack of a brake tester at the site.
Ms Aitken wrote in her findings: “Indeed, I would go so far to say that, looking at this case in the round, Colchri Ltd and Mr Morrin and Ms Dolan will have to realise that they are amongst the poorest of operators in Scotland in terms of standards of road-worthiness and compliance with the licence undertakings in relation to these.
“The current authorisation is 16 vehicles. I will impose a condition on the licence reducing that level of authorisation to 13 vehicles, with no increase in authorisation until I have seen a clear indication of improvement to the standards on this licence.”
Graeme Dolan, who has been appointed as transport manager at the firm, told the Paisley Daily Express: “We have been handed a punishment and we will take it on the chin. We are striving to improve. That is what is vitally important.
“We have to move forward and accept the findings of the report. We can still meet the requirements of our business.”
