School bus run firm's fleet cut

The company could lose school run contracts

A bus company has been ordered to cuts its fleet of vehicles because of its poor maintenance of those used to take children to school.

Rosshire-based Frasers Coaches was told by the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland to reduce its number of buses from 10 to four for a year.

The company's main business is providing school bus service contracts for Highland Council.

The firm was accused of having buses with defective brakes and worn tyres.

Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken had previously warned the company about its maintenance regime at a public inquiry in 2003.

The reduction of the fleet takes effect from midnight.

Last chance

Among the faults listed were defective brakes, worn tyres, and a fault in the door-open warning device.

The commissioner's report said the vehicles' condition was intolerable given the company had received previous warnings about the state of its buses.

Ms Aitken said she was reducing the size of the operators fleet by 60% for one year so the company could focus its maintenance resources on a smaller number of vehicles.

The commissioner acknowledged the order would cause the firm to lose one if not more of the school run contracts it has.

However, she said this was the company's last chance and it faced having its bus licence completely revoked if it fails to recognise the seriousness of its failings.