The unrepentant owner of a St Ives bus company fined ^3,300 for operating services outside set targets claims he acted out of loyalty to his customers and would gladly do it again (link below.)
http://thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232510&home=yes&more_nodeId1=232470&contentPK=20073051Nick Eastwood, who owns Victory Buses, was hit with the maximum fine for the second time after an investigation by Traffic Commissioners revealed that nearly half the services did not arrive on time.
The company, which has operated out of the town to surrounding holiday parks for 17 years, was also prevented from registering any new routes for six months.
Mr Eastwood, who failed to attend the hearing in Bristol last month but did submit a letter, said:
"I held my hands up and told the ministry I was guilty and would take my punishment like a man.
"We run a public service and did it because the holiday camps asked me to - I have to respond to demand if I want to keep their business.
"I accept that we ran until 11.30pm instead of 8pm and for one week longer than was agreed but there was no danger either to the public or to traffic."
The decision came after checks made on 110 services over two days last September showed 46% to be outside set targets with the majority more than five minutes late.
Officers from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency also recorded 35 additional journeys and 68 incorrect destinations.
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