Somerset independent Nippy Bus ceased operating late on Sunday 29 October.
Somerset County Council received no warning and hastily arranged emergency cover shortly after two other operators wound down their businesses and 18 months after the county’s second largest operator, WebberBus, collapsed.
Martock-based Nippy Bus – with 27 drivers and 17 vehicles – says it has appointed agents to release assets and discharge liabilities. Incorporated in 2004, it ran several public routes, school contracts and demand responsive transport (DRT) across rural south Somerset, being the sole operator in many villages.
Shocked staff reportedly received a memo from director and transport manager Sydney Hardy saying he had had enough and could not work with them ‘a moment longer’.
‘All staff should now consider themselves dismissed/redundant. The gates are now closed and will not open.’
There appeared to be no financial difficulties but it suffered driver shortages with its N9 (Martock-Yeovil) and N10 (Martock-Taunton) recently suspended and the N6 (Ilminster DRT) passing to Slinky Bus. First South West covered N10C school journeys from 9 October (won by Hatch Green Coaches from 30 October) but the twohourly N10 has not operated.
