School bus firm loses licence over unroadworthy vehicles

A vehicle inspector told a public inquiry in Durham that a routine check on a school bus in the east Durham village of Wingate showed it to be dangerous.

Another of Murton Taxis' 45-seater buses, coincidentally inspected on the same day after a member of the public told police it was driving erratically, was also taken off the road last November.

The bus inspected at the school was found to have a loose wheel, and the bus reported by the member of the public was found to have a fractured rear suspension, which was adversely affecting the steering. Both were given prohibition notices by the Vehicle Inspectorate on November 16.

Murton Taxis had two contracts with Durham County Council to provide a bus service to schools.

Traffic commissioner Tom Macartney heard that the director of the firm, Brian Smith, of Mann Crescent, Murton, had failed to attend two compulsory meetings with the Vehicle Inspectorate.

The inquiry heard that the company had failed to produce hardly any vehicle maintenance, insurance, MOT or inspection documents after claiming they had all been stolen from a briefcase in the back of a car.

Police had recorded the theft of a number of items from the vehicle, but had no record of a briefcase or documents being taken.

Summing up, Mr Macartney said: "You were under contract to carry schoolchildren safely. Your good reputation to do that has been lost. I have no choice but to revoke your licence with immediate effect."

Mr Smith's solicitor Hugh Dorey told the hearing that Mr Smith had redressed all the faults in Murton Taxi's safety procedures, and said the company would "certainly close" if his licence was revoked.

He said his client had been unable to attend earlier meetings with the vehicle inspectorate because he had to help look after his mother and sister, who had both been dying of cancer.

Mr Smith declined to comment after the hearing