Caernarfon-based Express Motors continued to operate in January despite having its PSV O-Licences revoked with effect from 31 December, Traffic Commissioner (TC) Nick Jones was told at a Welshpool Public Inquiry.
The TC reserved his decision on an application by Express Motors Caernarfon to take over part of the business of Express Motors (Penygroes) and the associated Eric Wyn Jones and Jean Ann Jones, trading as Express Motors.
Last August the falsification of maintenance records led to the revocation of the 20-vehicle licence held by Express Motors (Penygroes) with effect from the end of 2017, and the disqualification of Director Ian Wyn Jones – who was responsible for the falsifications – from holding or obtaining a PSV O-Licence for 12 months.
The TC also held that Kevin Jones had lost his repute as a Transport Manager (TM) and disqualified him from acting as such until he had undertaken a three-day TM refresher course. The TC revoked the 35-vehicle licence of the partnership on financial grounds [routeone/Court Report/6 September 2017).
On 2 January four directors of Express Motors (Penygroes) – Eric Wyn Jones, Ian Wyn Jones, Keith Jones, and Kevin Jones – pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud involving the bus concessionary fare scheme at Caernarfon Crown Court. They face trial in September [routeone/News/10 January).
Express Motors Caernarfon initially sought a new 35-vehicle international licence but, at the outset of the PI, reduced the proposed authorisation to 15 vehicles. The sole director of the firm was Rhian Wyn Davies, the daughter of Eric Wyn and Jean Ann Jones.
For the company, Scott Bell said that Mrs Davies had resigned as a director of Express Motors (Penygroes) on 17 December. It was conceded that Kevin Jones had continued to be involved. Recommendations made by Foster Tachographs would be put in place, and Mrs Davies’ husband would take up a management role and would attend a TM’s CPC course.
The company did not own any vehicles or assets at the moment or employ anyone except Mrs Davies. Three coaches and 20 buses had been identified which would be leased from the previous entities. They would need about 20 drivers who would be picked from the existing driver force.
The TC said that the operating centre at Penygroes was a tachograph centre run by Ian Wyn Jones and an MoT station in the name of Eric Wyn and Jean Ann Jones.
Vehicle Examiner Philip Branham gave evidence about a wheel loss incident in November, saying that the maintenance of the vehicles had not improved. Traffic Examiner Nia Daniels gave evidence of continued operation in January. In particular, she said that a coach taking school children swimming had a typed note in the windscreen with the name of Anglesey-based Eifion Coaches displayed. The school headmistress had said she thought Express Motors were undertaking the trip.
Mrs Davies said that she had had nothing to do with running the previous entities – she had just done general administration, and that the running of the business had been a shambles. When she asked Kevin Jones what was happening in the New Year, he said that it was all sorted. The vehicles would show an EMC livery and not Express Motors as she did not “want to be tarred with the same brush”. The proposed TM, Dhillon Roberts, gave an ultimatum on 10 January that either he or Kevin Jones must go.
Indicating he would issue his decision in writing, the TC said he was concerned whether the family interfering could be stopped. There had effectively been illegal trading and the maintenance situation was worse than it was in August. Mrs Davies could only move forward with the consent of the rest of the family.
