A north-east transport firm was banned from the roads after a coach it used on school runs was described as “the type found at the bottom of an operator’s yard with trees growing out of it”.
Keir Coaches (Kintore) had its licence revoked by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency after an examiner said the company’s coaches were among the worst he had seen
One of the buses used to take children to Alford Academy was the worst public-service vehicle he had come across in twelve-and-a-half years of service.
“Generally a vehicle in that condition was the type found at the bottom of an operator’s yard with trees growing out of it – as an out-of-use, discarded vehicle,” the Vosa examiner said.
When the school bus was examined on March 19 last year, the defects found included a damaged inside body panel, a broken interior roof light with sharp, jagged edges hanging loose and a loose outside body panel that was another potential injury hazard.
In the findings issued after an inquiry held in Aberdeen, Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken said it was “beyond comprehension” that the company could have allowed such a vehicle to undertake a school contract.
“How any driver, how anyone, could let that vehicle go to transport schoolchildren is unbelievable,” she said.
“In relation to maintenance, if ever a case demonstrated the need for school bus checks at school gates, this is it.”
She also raised questions about Aberdeenshire Council’s tendering process and issue of fair competition.
“Unless this was an unusual situation, such contracts will have been subject to a tendering exercise and it is likely that price will have been a determining feature,” Ms Aitken said.
“Sympathy should be directed to those operators and drivers who lost work to Keirs and to those who placed trust in Keirs to safely transport them or their dependants.”
The inquiry had heard that Keirs Coaches was involved in private hires, school contracts and taxi work.
Last night, Ron Beaty, whose granddaughter, Erin Beaty, was struck by a car and left partially paralysed after stepping off a school bus six years ago, said he was shocked by the findings.
“Would the folk that operate buses like these be happy to see their own children or their grandchildren travel in such a vehicle?” he said.
Mr Beaty, of Craigen Terrace, Gardenstown, has campaigned for school bus safety and lobbied the Scottish Parliament on the matter.
He said: “A school bus should look like a school bus, with safety features and flashing lights. Aberdeenshire Council has made some improvements but there is a long way to go – and the whole issue of school transport must be based on best practice and not best price.”
Vosa examiners carried out a maintenance investigation on May 5 last year. It followed a multi-agency check on school buses at Alford Academy several weeks earlier that pinpointed a series of defects, including five longstanding faults that should have been detected and repaired.
The Hill of Cottown business had authorisation for eight vehicles and the inquiry had heard there was a registered service running from High Street in Kemnay to Alford Academy.
The operator’s licence had been held by sole director Graham Keir until his resignation on October 30 last year. The licence held by the Kintore firm will now be revoked from March 21 on financial and professional-competence grounds.
Alan Findlater bought the business for a token payment of one penny and the purchase of some buses in November last year.
He owns a painting and decorating business based at Banchory that holds a royal warrant for work done at nearby Balmoral.
Last night, 26-year-old Mr Findlater said he had taken over the bus business to save jobs at the firm.
“I still hope to save the half dozen full-time and three or four part-time jobs at Kintore if I can,” said Mr Findlater, who lives at Kemnay.
He said he had invested significant cash and hours in improving operations, although he had anticipated the firm would lose its operator’s licence.
Mr Findlater said he would now be applying for a new operator’s licence and planned to give his coach business a new start under a new name.
“The inquiry decision was inevitable,” he said. “The situation before I took over was an absolute disgrace.
“That is in the past. I have a good staff in place now and I intend to move forward with a new and improved business.”
Last night, an Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said the traffic commissioners’ findings had reflected local authority concerns over the particular operator. The council had ended school transport contracts with the firm last April, and its public transport unit had been involved in investigations along with Grampian Police and VOSA. She said the safety of schoolchildren and other road-users was a priority.
“We regularly review transport services and take action where appropriate,” she said.