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Upcoming pontypridd bus war

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anthony263

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Good evening. I had this information sent to me earlier this afternoon.

Mr bus bandit himself Clayton Jones has been given a new operators licence for his new company called street buses.

I've attached 3 photos the 1st being the licence registration on vosa the other two are scans of the newsletter clayton has been posting to households around the Ynysybwl and Glyncoch area.

So far Only registered route is a half hourly A1 Ynysybwl to Pontypridd service which also serves the town centre and railway station according to the timetable shown in the newsletter.

So for the poor quality but this was all the information I was given I will post more information when I receive it
 

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RustySpoons

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Does this directly compete with another service, or does it add anything to an existing route? If it's the former the tag line 'Tackling Climate Change' is a bit of a lie.
 

traveller1

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If you type that registration number into VOSA there is nothing coming up. The post has also been taken down from the Facebook group it was posted in.
 

Dai Corner

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If you type that registration number into VOSA there is nothing coming up. The post has also been taken down from the Facebook group it was posted in.
Here a link to this week's Notices & Proceedings which includes the application.


and one to the application in the VOSA database.

 

Flange Squeal

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Interesting to note that the Transport Manager is listed as 'Clayon Jones'. A rather unfortunate typo! Of all the words you could get wrong...(!)
 

daodao

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Sorry but who is Clayton Jones?
See the following article from 2014 about the former boss of Shamrock Travel at https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/controversial-bus-operator-facing-public-6499720

A controversial bus operator is facing a public inquiry before learning whether he will be able to run services again.

Clayton Jones’ application to the Traffic Commissioner is being opposed by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, and the inquiry is due to take place in Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on February 4.

At one time, Mr Jones ran Pontypridd-based Shamrock Travel, which grew from being a one-vehicle company into one of the biggest bus operators in south east Wales, with a 229-strong fleet of vehicles and 300 staff. He and his then wife Alison sold the firm to Veolia in 2006 in a multi-million-pound deal.

In the same year, Mr Jones set up Heart of Wales – a significantly smaller operation than Shamrock.

Within a few years, the firm was in conflict with the Traffic Commissioner, who barred it from running services in Caerphilly following a series of complaints. These included that services ran late or not at all, and that they did not meet legal standards.

Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones said in a judgement that Clayton Jones met the loose definition of a “rogue operator”. He wrote: “I have no hesitation in confirming that the operator deserves to be put out of business. The legitimate industry and other road users would rightly expect me to do so.”

The Traffic Commissioner made several other criticisms, including that Mr Jones was a “malign” influence. Further on, he wrote: “The travelling public, compliant bus operators and the licensing system as a whole will benefit considerably as a result of this operator ceasing to have a PSV licence.”

But in reviewing the Traffic Commissioner’s decision, Judge Mark Hinchliffe decided Mr Jones should have been allowed to run the services. In a submission to the judge, Clayton Jones said he would be obliged to make 20 workers redundant if forced to give up the Caerphilly bus routes and communities would be left without services.

In the event, Heart of Wales went into liquidation and it was thought Mr Jones might bring his bus operator’s career to an end.

Now, however, he is hoping to make a comeback in a modest way. His application is to run eight buses in locations yet to be revealed.

Mr Jones said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is trying to ensure that I don’t get my operator’s licence back. I very much welcome the opportunity to take them on in a public forum.

“I am also intending to call as a witness the Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones himself. I want my barrister to be able to question him about the way he has treated me. I believe this is uncharted territory and will be the first time a Traffic Commissioner has been scrutinised in this way. I am all in favour of openness and not afraid to attend a public hearing and argue my case. There is too much lack of transparency and I want justice to be seen to be done.”

It is understood that Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones decided not to chair the public inquiry in view of his past row with Clayton Jones.

A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “We are aware of the public inquiry and will be assisting the Traffic Commissioner as requested, as we would do for all such cases.”

Mr Jones has been a donor to Plaid Cymru and at one time was leader of the former Taff Ely council centred on Pontypridd.

Many years ago, I did use Shamrock Travel bus services along the A470 (Manor Way) corridor (routes X5/X6 to Aberdare, formerly run by National Welsh). Fares were relatively cheap, but it was a cowboy outfit and services would run early or fail to turn up. The other service that I recall run by Shamrock into Cardiff was route 304 from Barry, formerly operated from before WW2 by the independent Thomas Motors. The current NAT (New Adventure Travel) Group bus route network (including service 304) has its origins in Shamrock Travel.
 
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Whisky Papa

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So for the poor quality but this was all the information I was given I will post more information when I receive it
I assume that was a typo for "Sorry" - but I don't think the "poor quality" is anything you are to blame for! The first leaflet suggests they will be LHD vehicles, and as for the awful presentation of the timetable on the second one - words fail me! I think any regulator seeing such shoddy publicity must wonder if the operator involved really is fit for purpose?
 

Dai Corner

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See the following article from 2014 about the former boss of Shamrock Travel at https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/controversial-bus-operator-facing-public-6499720



Many years ago, I did use Shamrock Travel bus services along the A470 (Manor Way) corridor (routes X5/X6 to Aberdare, formerly run by National Welsh). Fares were relatively cheap, but it was a cowboy outfit and services would run early or fail to turn up. The other service that I recall run by Shamrock into Cardiff was route 304 from Barry, formerly operated from before WW2 by the independent Thomas Motors. The current NAT (New Adventure Travel) Group bus route network (including service 304) has its origins in Shamrock Travel.
Wasn't NAT founded by Mr. Jones' son Kevyn?
 

cnjb8

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See the following article from 2014 about the former boss of Shamrock Travel at https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/controversial-bus-operator-facing-public-6499720



Many years ago, I did use Shamrock Travel bus services along the A470 (Manor Way) corridor (routes X5/X6 to Aberdare, formerly run by National Welsh). Fares were relatively cheap, but it was a cowboy outfit and services would run early or fail to turn up. The other service that I recall run by Shamrock into Cardiff was route 304 from Barry, formerly operated from before WW2 by the independent Thomas Motors. The current NAT (New Adventure Travel) Group bus route network (including service 304) has its origins in Shamrock Travel.
Thank you :)
 

traveller1

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The times on that leaflet - although the service is yet to be registered - are 5 minutes ahead of NAT service 106! I wonder if this will come off?
 

anthony263

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The times on that leaflet - although the service is yet to be registered - are 5 minutes ahead of NAT service 106! I wonder if this will come off?
Clayton has a loyal following up in the Ynysybwl and Glyncoch areas. The current driver shortage has caused major problems including a 2 hour gap in services

I assume that was a typo for "Sorry" - but I don't think the "poor quality" is anything you are to blame for! The first leaflet suggests they will be LHD vehicles, and as for the awful presentation of the timetable on the second one - words fail me! I think any regulator seeing such shoddy publicity must wonder if the operator involved really is fit for purpose?

This is clayton Jones for you. I remember st davids travel. Big leaflet launch for their 18a Cardiff to Ely and 61a Cardiff to Pentrebane services. The later never even ran.

Things will heat up in September as clayton does have a very loyal following up in Ynysybwl and glyncoch but we will see how long this operation lasts
 
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Dai Corner

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He stood for election as the Gwent Police & Crime Commissioner back in May.
 

carlberry

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The times on that leaflet - although the service is yet to be registered - are 5 minutes ahead of NAT service 106! I wonder if this will come off?
Standard tactic from the early years of deregulation, mostly the industry is past that now. Even before Covid the extra costs of insurance, all the legal requirements for buses and pass acceptance meant that on road competition just wasn't happening very often. A new service isn't going to be able to claim any of the Covid support money, whereas (I suspect) an existing service will still get it which will make it even more of a drain. Still, I'll look forward to seeing the left hand drive buses that are on the leaflet for however long Clayton can afford to run them!
 

M803UYA

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Under my stone....
Good evening. I had this information sent to me earlier this afternoon.

Mr bus bandit himself Clayton Jones has been given a new operators licence for his new company called street buses.

I've attached 3 photos the 1st being the licence registration on vosa the other two are scans of the newsletter clayton has been posting to households around the Ynysybwl and Glyncoch area.

So far Only registered route is a half hourly A1 Ynysybwl to Pontypridd service which also serves the town centre and railway station according to the timetable shown in the newsletter.

So for the poor quality but this was all the information I was given I will post more information when I receive it
Clayton doesn't have an operators licence; he's simply applied for one. Given his regulatory history you can bet it'll be heard at a public inquiry. So, to say he's got a new operators licence isn't strictly correct - there is no way of determining whether or not the application will be granted.
Until he has that licence he can't operate any services.
 
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