Trial area firm's troubles
Page 20
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TRYING to expand to take advantage of the Hereford and Worcester trial area was the undoing of bus operator B. J. D. Whitehead, trading as Flashes Coaches of Newent, Gloucestershire.
Mr Whitehead set up Flashes Coaches in 1973 and started operating with one coach and later two from the Black Dog car park at Newent. He operated what was described as a satisfactory minor bus operation throughout the Seventies.
He then expanded his fleet to five after successfully tendering to run a number of stage services in and around Hereford.
According to the inspector who held an inquiry to consider Mr Whitehead's appeal against a decision by the Western Traffic Commissioners to revoke his operator's licence, he then did almost everything wrong that he could have done.
He attempted to establish an operating centre in the West Midlands Traffic Area without approaching the West Midlands Traffic Commissioners about a licence.
He did not establish maintenance facilities for his five buses for a long time and failed to acquire a site where he could park and examine his vehicles near their main area of activity.
The Western Commissioners called Mr Whitehead to a sitting in February this year to consider evidence from vehicle examiners concerning prohibition notices on the Flashes buses.
The Commissioners concluded that maintenance arrangements were unsatisfactory and restricted Mr Whitehead to three buses and the licence to two years.
At a second sitting held in February this year the Commissioners heard that the vehicles had been issued with a further prohibition notice for a further 27 immediate defects and they ordered the revocation of his 0licence.
Mr Whitehead's appeal was dismissed by Transport Secretary David Howell.