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In defence of community transport
I fear that Howard Piltz (You Write last month) has little understanding of the realities of bus operation in rural areas. As a volunteer driver for a Section 22 operator with six buses (mostly low-floor), I would say that our safety record is comparable with commercial operators, with whom we enjoy good relations. All our drivers have D1 licences as well as a Midas qualification and some also hold PCV/LGV licences.
In our operating area (North Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire), commercial bus services are confined to main road routes, and the majority of villages are served solely by operators like ourselves, especially since Oxfordshire County Council withdrew all bus subsidies in 2016.
If the full PCV/ certificate of professional competence regulations were applied to us, we would have to cease operations.
It would s…
