Bridgend-based Parrot Motors Ltd’s operator licence has been revoked with immediate effect and the operator has been fined £1,100.
This was due to the operator failing to meet the requirement of financial standing, the requirement to be of good repute, the requirement to be professionally competent and failing to operate a local bus service.
Transport Manager, Richard Thomas Parrott, has also lost his repute as a transport manager, and was disqualified from holding or applying for any new position within the EU until he takes a specialist transport manager refresher course. Richard Parrott has indicated that he would retire from the industry and not seek to return.
The decision was made after an application to cancel two registered services with an end date that was less than the required 56 days’ notice; services then ceased almost immediately.
Richard Parrott explained his reasoning, stating that in November 2017 a taxi which the operator leased to a driver was involved in an accident that involved a fatality, which raised the operator’s insurance premium by 100% with only 48 hours’ notice prior to the insurance renewal date. Richard Parrott said that he felt the business was no longer viable and as a result he made the decision to cease services.
Richard Parrott claimed that an attempt was made to ensure replacement services so that local students would not be inconvenienced. Richard Parrott’s claim was contradicted by Bridgend County Borough Council who reported that services stopped running on 22 June 2018, leaving students stranded.
The Traffic Commissioner for Wales, Nick Jones, said: “The requirement to give proper notice is set down in law for good reason. It affords an opportunity for local transport authorities to seek alternatives if appropriate, and importantly it gives the travelling public notice of changes.
“Withdrawing services without notice is something that reduces public confidence in local bus services and does nothing to encourage greater public use of buses.”
