The night bus.
A BUS firm that had lost its licence for breaking regulations has claimed Island Coachways is guilty of similar breaches.
Guernsey Chauffeur Drive had to cancel its two night bus services, from Town to the Bridge/L’Ancresse and to St Martin’s, after the Environment Department took away its licence on Friday.
Environment sent a letter to the company detailing contraventions, including waiting at the bus layby near the Thomas de la Rue pub for between eight and 15 minutes and not displaying a public omnibus plate on the rear of the vehicle.
Guernsey Chauffeur Drive director Terry Le Maitre said that Island Coachways also broke these regulations, something Coachways denied.
Mr Le Maitre said: ‘Neither the department nor their scheduled service operator has any experience of operating late-night bus services, which are as different from daytime services as chalk and cheese.
‘On late services, many passengers have been out enjoying themselves and will have consumed alcohol to varying degrees. They are in the main well behaved but take time getting on and off the double decker, usually take a little longer to find their money and generally have a bit of banter with our staff.
‘In addition, we have noted Island Coachways’ vehicles parked on the inward bus stop at the top of St Julian’s Avenue for in excess of an hour.’
Mr Le Maitre said the rear licence plate was missing because Environment had not provided a new one.
‘We displayed a computer-generated paper plate in the rear window whilst awaiting the department to provide the appropriate plate,’ he said.
‘Incidentally, I have photographic evidence of an Island Coachways vehicle which for the last six weeks has had no plate displayed whatsoever, and continues to do so.’
Hannah Beacom, managing director of Island Coachways, said it would be inappropriate to comment on a licensing issue between Guernsey Chauffeur Drive and the Environment Department.
But she said she would respond to Mr Le Maitre’s allegations.
‘By parking up vehicles at the St Julian’s Avenue bus stop, we are not breaching any road traffic legislation, neither are we contravening any terms or conditions of our public omnibus licences, or presenting a safety issue to other road users,’ she said.
‘Our garage manager noticed on 5 June that the PSV plate had fallen off, or been removed, from vehicle number 70055. We immediately requested a replacement plate from the Environment Department and are currently waiting for this.’
Mr Le Maitre added that he believed there were other reasons behind the department’s decision to revoke his company’s licence.
‘I believe there is another agenda, which may include allowing Island Coachways to pick up this service, now that after three years we have proved both a need and requirement for the late-night services,’ he said.
But Mrs Beacom replied: ‘The Environment Department has not approached us regarding the provision of a late-night bus service. We would provide one only if it was commercially viable for us to do so.’
*The Environment Department has stated that it did not wish to comment further at this time.
Article posted on 2nd July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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