The 22-vehicle licence held by Glastonbury based Avalon Coaches, one of whose vehicles was involved in an accident on the M25 when carrying children, has been revoked from 31 December by Traffic Commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney.
Until then the licence has been cut to 12 vehicles with effect from 31 October
On 22 June 2015, a coach collided with a concrete wall protecting an over-bridge on the M25.
The driver, Gerald Huxtable, subsequently pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention. The weather was bad and Mr Huxtable was unable to clear the front windscreen of condensation. He decided to stop on the hard shoulder but failed to see the wall.
The TC also heard of a series of immediate and delayed prohibitions. A Traffic Examiner outlined a number of serious drivers’ hours and tachograph offences.
The Public Inquiry also heard that two vehicles had been involved in serious fires.
In his decision, the TC said that that neither vehicle maintenance nor drivers hours had been effectively managed. The company had eight transport managers in seven years and was without a transport manager from October 2015 until January 2017.
Given the size of the operation, he would allow it to be wound down allowing time for the local authorities to provide alternative suppliers.
The full report will be in a forthcoming Court Report.
