Shropshire Star

Shropshire coach firm easyBus could face traffic commissioner action

A bus firm which announced plans to close its Shropshire operation last week is being investigated for operating in Wales without a licence.

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EasyBus has been running a number of routes in the county since last year but will be stopping from September 9.

The routes included a bus from Shrewsbury to Manchester Airport. Now it has emerged that the company, which operates under the name Skiers Lodge Limited and is based at Harlescott in Shrewsbury, could face action from the West Midlands Traffic Commissioner.

The commissioner’s office has confirmed that it granted a short-notice application to stop the services but that it is still examining two other matters.

They include considering action over “reported timetable failures” and suggestions the firm was “operating from within Wales when no licence was held”.

Andrew Martin, who set up the firm, declined to comment. He said the company had nothing to add to last week’s statement announcing plans to stop the service, when he spoke of attempts to sabotage his firm.

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He said: “Certain individuals had been out to sabotage the business. They have escalated their action over recent weeks and certain incidents have been reported to the police.”

The statement from the traffic commissioner’s office said: “Short notice applications to cancel services 2, 2D, Easybus 5, EB6, 42, 44, 64 and 101 were made by The Skiers Lodge Limited to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner.

“The Traffic Commissioner agreed to the early cessation of services but will be considering action under the Transport Act 1985 and also actions under section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 as a result of reported timetable failures. Additionally, he will be examining suggestions that Skiers Lodge Limited has been operating from within Wales when no licence was held.”

Mr Martin set up the franchise Skiers Lodge Limited, operating under the name of easyCoach to take people to Manchester Airport from stops at Telford, Shrewsbury and Oswestry – charging £2.

The business was run from a unit in Harlescott, which saw up to 10 coaches being hired out in the summer of 2017, creating six jobs.

Announcing the decision to shut in a letter to staff Mr Martin said: “I am sorry that the action of certain individuals has been a serious contributory factor which has caused you to lose your employment and I would like to thank you for the hard work that you have put in over the last weeks and months.”

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