Safety probe bus firm wins school deal

A bus firm which could have its licence revoked for a string of alleged safety breaches has won a new contract to ferry pupils to and from school.

Angry mothers have accused Staffordshire County Council of putting their children's lives at risk for allowing Warstones Motors to drive them to their lessons.

The company, trading as The Green Bus Service, appeared before the Traffic Commission in Birmingham yesterday over a number of maintenance lapses including MOT failures, four expired tax discs, loose wheel nuts, leaking fuel gauges and a bald tyre.

Around 25 jobs will go if the company, based in Great Wyrley, loses its licence.

Inspectors from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, which oversees MOT testing, found 60 defects in the company's 20 vehicles following one visit, the inquiry heard.

The firm was also unable to produce safety records, claiming they were kept at owner Graham Martin's home because of break-ins at the premsies.

The firm already has contracts with Staffordshire County Council to run school and passenger routes, but recently won a new contract to run youngsters to St Mary's RC Primary in Brewood.

During the hearing, Mr Martin claimed that some of the defects were the result of sabotage. He also insisted that there had been no problems since a new engineering team had been in place.

But Mr Martin, who has been in the bus industry for 45 years, came under severe pressure from deputy traffic commissioner Lester Maddrell who queried whether he had not "abdicated his responsibility" as transport manager.

One mother at the hearing, Jill Nall, of Saxon Road, Penkridge said: "There should be stringent risk assessments in place when the safety of children is in question."

The public inquiry will announce its decision in 28 days. County Council spokesman Tom Hobbins said: "Obviously we take safety issues extremely seriously but we're awaiting the outcome of the inquiry."