It is very worrying that members of the Community Transport Association (CTA) seem so ill-informed and unprepared by their trade association of the impending changes and the need to comply with the regulations.
Over a period of many years, approaches were made by Martin Allen, of the Bus and Coach Association (BCA), to discuss all the issues and concerns surrounding licensing etc., but the CTA did not want to speak.
In a report to the CTA Board by an employee, there was considerable concern expressed surrounding the way the current licensing exemptions were being used.
This in effect was a clear recognition by senior staff within the CTA that there was a problem building up and the board simply ignored the warnings.
Ewan Jones the CTA’s former Deputy Chief Executive visited the EC in the company of the BCA and the Federation of Passenger Transport Northern Ireland (FPTNI) regarding the complaint by the BCA, and it was clearly explained by officials that the current licensing system in the UK was unsustainable.
This was reinforced by Alan Bates from Monckton Chambers in a meeting at the DfT. It was explained that the DfT’s current position was also unsustainable with regards to the then advice and guidance, therefore instead of explaining all of this to the members, the possible future implications regarding having an O-Licence and the drivers obtaining a vocational licence and a DCPC, the board decided not to say anything for reasons yet to be explained and it is unfortunate and regrettable that the CTA has had its collective heads in the sand.
From what we can see, is that there has been a failure over the years to communicate to commercial operators by not only the DfT, the CTA and Mobility Matters, resulting in many missed opportunities which has brought us to the present position, at this time Paul Rhodes at the DfT has yet to come up with a definitive date for a meeting. I recall the words it is good to talk and with goodwill on either side, progress can be made and unfortunately that has never been forthcoming.
Ian Ashman
A & J Coaches
