THE owner of an Exeter coach firm responsible for transporting children to schools across the city has announced his intention to appeal the loss of his operating licence over "woeful" safety failures.
A damning report published by the Traffic Commissioner has outlined defects involving brakes, seatbelts, tyres and emergency exits relating to Carmel Coaches' vehicles and described the faults as "serious and long-standing."
The firm, based in Marsh Barton, was involved in the fatal accident last month in which two women on an Exmouth Age Concern day trip to Cornwall died, and several more were seriously injured.
At the time of the accident, a public inquiry was already underway, and Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell said she put the crash out of her mind when publishing her findings.
But following the inquiry she said she found directors Tony and Michael Hazell "not capable or competent" and stripped them of their operating licence for 18 months from July 31.
Tony Hazell, who founded the company in 1984, described the decision as "extremely harsh" and told the Echo he planned to lodge an appeal.
The outcome of any appeal would also determine the future of the 50 staff currently employed by the company.
It has a fleet of around 50 coaches and operates services to several schools throughout Devon, including Exmouth College, Clyst Vale Community College, Exeter's Maynard School, Exeter School and Queen Elizabeth School in Crediton.
It also operates the Sowton to County Hall park and ride, the free bus service to Tesco in Exmouth and is used by various groups for day trips and excursions.
Questions have now been asked about how the company was allowed to continue transporting children to schools throughout Devon despite the "significant failures" across the maintenance system that go back to 2012.
In her conclusion, Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell said: "In light of the woeful failures which remain as recently as 6 May 2014 on balance I am drawn to the conclusion that Carmel Coaches Limited, Mr Tony Hazell and Mr Michael Hazell, are not capable or competent to operate the necessary systems to ensure vehicles remain road worthy when in service and in a lawful manner.
"They are found wanting to such an unacceptable degree, even after copious amounts of advice and support from DVSA, a warning from me and help from the commercial sector."
One parent, Nicola Farley, said: "I'm outraged that I've been paying Devon County Council for Carmel Coaches to take my daughter to school. To say I am not impressed is an understatement.
"It is hard to believe a firm would have a licence revoked for something minor. Maintenance issues not reported? Surely that would or could put people at risk?"
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "In light of the Traffic Commissioner's decision to revoke the operators' licence of Carmel Coaches from 31 July, we are now considering how to replace the services currently contracted to Carmel."
Mr Hazell described the report and the decision as "harsh."
He said: "We are planning to appeal as we feel that the punishment is disproportionate to the offence. We have been in business for 30 years and this is the first time we have had a public inquiry.
"In that period no passenger has ever been injured until the recent tragedy in Looe.
"The vehicle involved in that crash was inspected by a group of 10 experts and they found no defects that caused or contributed to the accident.
"We have a fleet of 50 vehicles and these inspections have been carried out over a number of years. The impression that we have an unroadworthy fleet is simply not true.
"I stand by our safety record, which I say is reasonable over a 30 year period."
Mr Hazell said he is hoping to be granted an appeal and stressed that the company is allowed to carry on trading pending the outcome of the appeal.
"Some of our clients are staying very loyal to us," he added. "Some have been using us for the best part of 30 years and are happy with us.
"One or two have been alarmed by what they have seen in the media, but some of the reports have not been as well balanced as they could have been."
Despite claims in the report that things had "worsened" since concerns were first raised, Mr Hazell said it had tried to make improvements.
"I didn't agree with many of the findings," he added.
"If we cannot operate we will not be able to employ anyone and the welfare of our staff is of paramount importance. We will do our best to stay in business so they can maintain employment.
"We are not some rogue operator. We are a hard working family business that have been around for 30 years. The Looe tragedy had a devastating effect on all of us. But we are not a cowboy operator trying to cut corners."
