Operator caused ‘very significant and immediate’ concerns for road safety, according to TC
Following a public inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner for Wales, Nick Jones, has decided to revoke Tacsi Gwynedd Ltd’s O-licence with effect from 2359hrs on 2 September.
The company, which operated from an industrial estate in Penygroes, Caernarfon, had a license for six vehicles.
During the inquiry, the TC heard evidence from a number of DVSA witnesses, as well as from the local authority; no representatives from the firm attended the hearing.
Although yet to publish his full written decision, the TC commented in a short summary: “It is clear from the evidence that anything other than a very short delay in revoking the licence will put an unjustifiable and unnecessary risk to road safety as far as the travelling public are concerned.”
He continued: “My written decision will spell out that there have been attempts to intimidate DVSA enforcement staff; false claims have been made as to an incident when two wheels fell of a bus, with the operator falsely claiming that it was a tyre blow out; a very recent S marked prohibition has been made on a vehicle operated as PSV with a director falsely claiming that it was not used by the operator; and the nominated transport manager has not been performing a transport manager role, and instead has been working full time for a business in Abergavenny.
“Evidence as to the state of vehicle safety has been impeded by obfuscation from the operator and attempts to mislead. My findings will include one that most vehicles go out in an unsafe condition.
“The combination of poor vehicles, deliberate false claims as to incidents and calculated attempts at intimidation are such that I cannot allow buses to continue to be run.”
As a consequence of these issues, Transport Manager Alan Vaughan Owen has lost his good repute – and will therefore be disqualified – while Directors Sion Edwards and Hugh Edwards will also receive orders of disqualification.
The TC concluded: “Aside from issues of trust and fair competition, there are very significant and immediate concerns for road safety.
“Hence my decision on a Friday lunchtime to make an order for closure of a business before the end of the weekend.
“I very much regret the inconvenience caused to the travelling public as a result of the lack of notice, however their safety must be paramount.”
