North Yorkshire County Council had to find alternative operators for contracted services previously run by Wetherby-based Eddie Brown Tours Ltd last week.
The local authority said: “Late afternoon on December 9, Eddie Brown Tours advised us that they would not be able to operate some contracted services with immediate effect, including four school services and local bus services 56, 56A, 57, 57A, 58, 142 and 143.”
Other operators in the area helped the council and public. They included Transdev, Connexions (Harrogate Coach Travel), York Pullman, Procter’s and the council’s own fleet.
A statement on Eddie Brown Tours’ website read: “Please contact 0845 872 7374 (North Yorkshire County Council) for ALL enquiries relating to bus services 56, 57, 58, 142 and 143 between York, Ripon and Harrogate. These services are no longer under contract to us and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Asked whether the firm had been the subject of any compliance action, the Office of Traffic Commissioner replied: “Eddie Brown Tours Ltd holds a standard international operator’s licence and is authorised to operate 50 vehicles from Unit 370, Avenue E East, Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby, LS23 7EG. The licence has not been the subject of any regulatory action in the last five years.”
Eddie Brown Tours Ltd is not to be confused with Northallerton-based Eddie Brown Coaches Ltd, incorporated on February 18, 2014, which has Kevin Procter as its Director and Claire Alenius as its Company Secretary.
Notices and Proceedings (N&P) for the north east of England dated November 14 includes a new O-licence application with a 50-vehicle authorisation for Eddie Brown Travel Limited.
N&P lists Gary Priest and Andrew Knowles as the Transport Managers for the new operator, which has its operating centre listed as Unit 370, Avenue E East, Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby, LS23 7EG. Gary Priest is also listed as a Director. Eddie Brown Travel Limited was incorporated on October 14, 2014. As this issue went to press on Monday, VOSA’s www.tan.gov.uk website listed the firm’s O-licence as “Application in Progress.”
According to www.companycheck.co.uk, Eddie Brown Tours Ltd has Gary Priest and Deirdre Brown as directors. Incorporated as long ago as 1978, it’s now 100% owned by Island Fortitude.
