Globe Coaches (Aberdare) licence revoked

Traffic Commissioner was presented with no financial or maintenance evidence for operator at its fourth public inquiry, but allows services to run for three weeks before full revocation

The Welsh Traffic Commissioner, Victoria Davies, has rebuked a council for failing to plan to cover the services of a failing operator.

Globe Coaches had been called to a public inquiry on 29 September after a maintenance investigation in March which discovered multiple failings on inspections, a safety defect and almost half vehicles failing MoT, many for brakes. No financial standing evidence was provided, and the operator himself said he wasn’t going to defend himself at the inquiry. Globe Coaches, of Aberdare, has had three previous public inquiries.

At the hearing, the TC said that Globe Coaches, headed by Stephen and Monica Jarvis, had failed to provide any of the documentation she required and, the day before the inquiry, had an email from Stephen Jarvis saying he wouldn’t be attending, and would surrender his licence on 1 November when his insurance was due. He had said that his repute as transport manager was “really irrelevant as it will not be required in retirement.”

However, the Senior Transport Manager for Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) council, Anthony Richardson, did attend and then, belatedly, so did Stephen Jarvis. The TC said he had attended because he was not sure she’s had his email, but that he was not presenting any documents to support his case.

However, Mr Richardson told the TC that, as Globe Coaches operated six school contracts and one SEND service, encompassing some 300 children, plus two registered service and an NHS shuttle, an immediate end to its services would be a serious problem.

“”When asked what contingency arrangements RCT had made should my decision be to revoke the licience…Mr Richardson said that none had been made,” says the TC’s report. “When asked why not, he stated that RCT were not sure the public inquiry would go ahead because of covid problems and that they were hoping Mr Jarvis would change his mind…”

The TC said in her report: “I find it particularly concerning that an operator who carries school children and members of the public should have so many test failures and prohibitions due to brake issues and door defects.

“I was very surprised to hear from Mr Richardson that RCT had made no contingency arrangements…They had known about his inquiry, and the inevitable possibility that I would revoke the licence, for some weeks.”

Despite being placed in a “difficult position” the TC allowed Globe Coaches to continue to run until 22 October (half term) subject to an urgent fleet inspection by DVSA.

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