Bus Firm’s Licence Axed Over Shocking Safety Failures
Millmans Coaches Ltd, trading as Grey Cars and Coaches in Torbay, has had its 20-vehicle bus and coach operator licence revoked. Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney pulled the plug after reports revealed serious mechanical defects across the fleet.
Brake Fluid Dry, Fuel Tanks Loose – Road Risks Run Rampant
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) uncovered alarming issues during inspections. One minibus had a completely dry brake fluid reservoir – a ticking time bomb. Another vehicle’s fuel tank was dislodged so badly it forced Devon County Council to resurface 100 metres of road damage.
Out of 21 recent DVSA inspections, eight found buses too dangerous to stay on the road, triggering immediate service bans.
Unqualified ‘Engineer’ in Charge – Risk to Schoolchildren
The company admitted struggling to keep qualified PSV technicians, despite offering decent pay. Instead, Paul Hamlyn-White, a former driver turned transport manager with just a few days of technical training, took on the role of fleet engineer.
At the hearing, he demonstrated a shocking lack of basic engineering knowledge. The commissioner branded both Hamlyn-White and the company reckless for managing fleet maintenance without qualified staff.
“It’s so bad I have to put the operator out of business. I cannot allow a sixteen-vehicle operation to continue,” said Kevin Rooney. “The risk is simply too great. The person in charge demonstrated no basic understanding of vehicle systems or the physics behind them. For the safety of schoolchildren in south Devon and all road users, this operation must end.”
