Catch 22 Bus Ltd

[bussnapperwm]

Hi All,

Catch 22 Bus Ltd posted a statement on their Facebook page last night as part of their long running drama with Former STC Beverley Bell and the revocation of their O Licence

Statement from Catch22Bus

Following a meeting with newly appointed legal counsel, Catch22Bus has decided to proceed with an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against a decision made in 2017 to revoke its Operator Licence. The decision against us focused on our exposing the Senior Traffic Commissioner's personal conduct.

In a separate, but related action, we will be progressing action to force the Department for Transport to disclose the Judge's report into allegations of serious misconduct by the former Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell.

Mrs Bell resigned from her post in December 2018 "before the conclusion of an internal process".

https://www.facebook.com/134405156940435/posts/839702993077311/

Catch22 Bus Ltd is owned by Phillip Higgs, former director of Classic Bus North West and director of Birmingham/Manchester Sightseeing. He is also the main shareholder in the operations of Nuttalls Coaches Ltd, which operate service 26 on behalf of Catch 22 Bus.

If I'm honest, reading up on the CBNW/Catch22Bus/Oakwood Travel/Red Rocket saga, I think that Mr Higgs is just bitter over the constant attempts by the Office of the Traffic Comissioner to get that cowboy operator off the road

 

[Mwanesh]

I think this shoud be confidential . He is opening a can of worms here . I dont get this social media posts some companies make . Some businesses stay out of the limelight and do a good job .

 

[Statto]

One of the reasons his O licence was revoked.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-42392558

A bus operator who hired a private detective to spy on a government inspector has lost his appeal to have his firm's licence reinstated.

Philip Higgs developed "animosity" towards the official because she would not say who complained about his firm Catch 22 Ltd, a tribunal heard.

He posted footage on YouTube of the inspector driving her own car poorly, in an attempt to discredit her.

A tribunal judge said the conduct was a "serious invasion of privacy".

Judge Howard Levenson also said it was an "attack" on the adjudicatory process. Mr Higgs is to challenge the decision.

The Lancashire company's licence for routes between Cleveleys and St Annes and another between Fleetwood and Thornton will be revoked from 18 February.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Following a public inspector around, posting misleading videos of her on social media under a false name, and then lying about it. Hmm. Yep, no issues with his professional repute at all. None.

He's still continuing to misrepresent the appeal decision too. It wasn't a vindication of him, it was the exact opposite.

If he'd wound his neck in and behaved properly he'd have his licence back by now.

 

[Mwanesh]

It can also be classed as stalking . He is digging a bigger hole .

 

[Tetchytyke]

It can also be classed as stalking . He is digging a bigger hole .

It's still on YouTube too.

 

[bb21]

Just the words "Classic Bus North West" alone send chills down my spine.

Only if more traffic commissioners had as much backbone as Ms Bell in dealing with cowboy operations...

 

[theblackwatch]

It sounds like the appeal to the Supreme Court has been turned down.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Bye bye Catch22Bus (Good riddance to bad rubbish)

(Edit) their website is saying their routes are being ran by Coastliner Buses Limited from 13/04/20. Yet another swindle from them.

 

[carlberry]

Bye bye Catch22Bus (Good riddance to bad rubbish)

(Edit) their website is saying their routes are being ran by Coastliner Buses Limited from 13/04/20. Yet another swindle from them.

I really cant understand how anybody is so desperate to operate buses currently! Loadings are minimal and likely to remain so for quite some time, and it's quite likely that public transport generally isn't going to bounce back very quickly and there's already plenty of the more professional operators closing.

 

[Whistler40145]

I really cant understand how anybody is so desperate to operate buses currently! Loadings are minimal and likely to remain so for quite some time, and it's quite likely that public transport generally isn't going to bounce back very quickly and there's already plenty of the more professional operators closing.

Indeed, it’s rather bizarre or bloody minded

 

[theblackwatch]

Bye bye Catch22Bus (Good riddance to bad rubbish)

(Edit) their website is saying their routes are being ran by Coastliner Buses Limited from 13/04/20. Yet another swindle from them.

And previously known as Nuttalls Coaches Ltd, referred to in #1. A new Director, Monika Higgs, was appointed last month.

 

[Whistler40145]

And previously known as Nuttalls Coaches Ltd, referred to in #1. A new Director, Monika Higgs, was appointed last month.

Presumably Mrs Higgs?

 

[theblackwatch]

Presumably Mrs Higgs?

No idea to be honest, just going by what it says on Companies House info.

 

[Mwanesh]

Indeed, it’s rather bizarre or bloody minded

You know how some people are good at trying to prove a point. I know some companies get grief but this one took things too far.

 

[Whistler40145]

You know how some people are good at trying to prove a point. I know some companies get grief but this one took things too far.

Well I’m in Blackpool and know of him and his bus operations

 

[Busaholic]

Well I’m in Blackpool and know of him and his bus operations

Be interesting to hear your viewpoint.

 

[Mwanesh]

I meant the Catch 22 people took things too far. Even i would not do what they did. That was just way out of order

 

[Whistler40145]

Be interesting to hear your viewpoint.

I think Philip Higgs previously worked for Blackpool Transport as an Inspector, not quite sure how he departed the company

 

[bussnapperwm]

Latest from out of the Catch22 Camp:

STATEMENT FROM CATCH22BUS
The Honours Forfeiture Committee is to consider whether to revoke the CBE awarded to Ms Bell, the former Senior Traffic Commissioner after an investigation and Report into her conduct.
Alex Morrow, Honours and Appointments Secretariat said that “The Committee is able to consider cases where individuals are deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute. We will be asking the Department for Transport to formulate a submission in relation to Ms Bell. The Forfeiture Committee will then consider the recommendation that they make."
Their concern follows an investigation into allegations of “extremely serious misconduct” made by Mr.Higgs back in March 2015 but not investigated by the Department for Transport until February 2018 by retired High court Judge, Sir Alistair MacDuff.
A final report following a detailed investigation reported to the Secretary of State in September 2018, but Ms Bell “resigned prior to the conclusion of an internal process”. Another serious complaint of misconduct, by a haulage operator, remained outstanding upon her resignation and was not investigated.
Bernadette Kelly’s, (Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport) response was that “I confirm that the Department does not consider the original report was flawed. You are aware of the report’s main conclusions ”. The DfT has still not published the Report or acted on the Report’s recommendations, not has it released the Report to the complainant, Mr.Higgs.
Despite the serious complaints made, Ms Bell the former Senior Traffic Commissioner was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2017 for services to Road Safety and the freight industry.
Ms Bell presided over a series of hearings at a Public Inquiry in 2014 and 2015 into the operations of Catch22Bus and her adverse decision of a 7-year ban made in 2015 was overturned on appeal. A subsequent review by another Traffic Commissioner found no compliant issues where Ms Bell had identified 34 “facts” that were not supported by the evidence she considered.
Licensed private inquiry agents were commissioned by Catch22Bus to consider the allegations of misconduct against Ms Bell in the context of the DfT refusing to investigate. One of their findings was evidence of significant traffic offences which were exposed as being incompatible with the office held and responsibilities for overseeing the safe operation of vehicles and driver conduct.

TransporaBus North West

STATEMENT FROM CATCH22BUS The Honours Forfeiture Committee is to consider whether to revoke the CBE awarded to Ms Bell, the former Senior Traffic Commissioner after an investigation and Report into...

www.facebook.com

 

[KendalKing]

I think Philip Higgs previously worked for Blackpool Transport as an Inspector, not quite sure how he departed the company

Philip Higgs was a Driver at Blackpool Transport, at the same time that I was a Driver at Fylde Transport.

 

[Whistler40145]

Philip Higgs was a Driver at Blackpool Transport, at the same time that I was a Driver at Fylde Transport.

That’s interesting

I’m quite surprised he ever managed to set up a company, let alone attempt to run one