roythebus wrote:
After about 10 years in the game I've decided it isn't worth it anymore. Having moved to just outside my old area of Shepway and into Ashford following splitting with the mrs, it really wasn't worth the hassle of getting licenced locally and starting afresh. So I politely told Shepway I will be returning my badge and operators licence in due course. The lease on my Skoda runs out at the end of the month and it really isn't worth carrying on.
I've found some part-time work driving railway replacement buses which at weekends pays far more than a weekend of sitting around waiting for the phone to ring for the next £5 private hire fare. There's been some nice people I've taken around the Romney Marsh and a few total dickheads, some of them I'll miss, some I won't.
It's been nice having some banter on here with other drivers and operators and I've learnt quite a bit about the private hire and taxi trade, a lot of which has been useful when I've been at meetings concerning the bus business. Yes, I'm carrying on with my vintage buses for weddings, and serving on the Kent & Medway group of the Confederation of Passenger Transport. Have a look at my new Facebook group "Byeways Vintage Bus Hire".
I'm still following the s19 community minibus debacle with input from Martin Allen, so I'll stay lurking around her to pass on any updates on that front. If anyone wants advice on minibus or bus operations, drop me a line on here and I'll try to point you in the right direction. The legal side and court case database on here has been particularly useful and I will probably even miss TT's rants! Take care everyone.
Still keep in touch Roy, Martin Allen is doing a sterling job, he's halfway there in his quest to rid the trade of the community transport groups.