School bus firm’s licence revoked

A coach company which transports children to school in Spalding has had its licence to operate removed after a public inquiry.

Emblings, of Wisbech, had its operator’s licence revoked and its operator and company director were disqualified from holding an operator’s licence by the Traffic Commissioner at a hearing in Cambridgeshire last week.
The Traffic Commissioner ruled that he believed the company “no longer met the mandatory and continuing requirement to be of good repute, to be of financial standing and to be professionally competent”.
But the disqualification does not come into effect until June 9, leaving some parents concerned as their children will continue to be transported to school by Emblings until then.
Lincolnshire County Council, which is responsible for school transport, said the commissioner took the decision to allow Emblings to continue until June 9 to give reasonable notice for other arrangements to be put into place.
Anita Ruffle, Passenger Transport Group Manager, at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Lincolnshire currently has four contracts operated by Emblings serving Sutton St. James, Holbeach and Spalding schools.
“Discussions have taken place with representatives from Emblings Coaches and arrangements for these contracts going forward are currently being considered.
“The determination by the Traffic Commissioner has only just been published and the operator now has the right to appeal this decision.”