Dumbarton bus firm fined for false claim

Nov 14 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A DUMBARTON bus firm boss has been fined £2500 after claiming non-existent roadworks were to blame for a poor service.

An enquiry was told that David Bishop, of Lennox Road, Milton, blamed roadworks between Clydebank and Glasgow, and staff shortages for problems with the buses.

But an investigation revealed there were no roadworks on the route between Faifley, Clydebank and Partick Bus Station.

At the public inquiry, traffic commissioner Joan Aitken was told how the services were monitored over a seven day period between March and April.

Officers recorded that buses operated by Mr Bishop’s firm DB Travel arrived too early 56 times and were more than five minutes late five times. Five routes were also axed and an unregistered bus used three times.

Mr Bishop, who has run the firm for 12 years, was accused by Ms Aitken of trying to “out-manoeuvre” three rivals on the same route.