Stagecoach to pay more than £20k to Orkney schools

Stagecoach are to make an ex gratia payment of £20,500 to Orkney Islands Council as the result of a public inquiry into services in Orkney.

The inquiry, led by Scottish traffic commissioner Joan Aitken, was held in Kirkwall on Tuesday, June 5. This follows a wave of criticism towards bus services in the county, which saw members of the public brand Stagecoach “a disgrace.”

Alongside multiple vehicle breakdowns and issues with accessibility for disabled passengers, it came to light that one bus contracted to run the route between Birsay and Stromness Academy had fungi growing throughout its interior.
The hearing was called to consider failings in relation to the provision of contracted school services and local bus services, many of which were caused by vehicle breakdowns. The traffic commissioner was concerned about the standard of vehicle roadworthiness and presentation.

In particular she heard evidence from the Stagecoach Managing Director in Scotland, Mr Robert Andrew, who took the opportunity to apologise in public to OIC officials for the company’s failures. The inquiry also saw representatives from the council give evidence.

After hearing this evidence, as well as making a visit to the bus operator’s Kirkwall depot, Miss Aitken also made an order to reduce the number of vehicles authorised on licence held by Highland Country Buses Ltd — the subsidiary of Stagecoach which serves the Highlands and Islands. Of the 210 vehicles which had been licensed, 30 will  now be unlicensed until Miss Aitken is satisfied with the compliance of the company to its licenses and contracts.

In response to this, Stagecoach North Scotland managing director, David Liston, said: “We understand the importance of reliable and high-quality bus services to local communities in the Highlands and Islands.

“Since these issues arose, we have taken steps to ensure that there are robust maintenance and operational processes in place across our business in the north of Scotland, and we are continuing to focus in particular on fleet reliability and presentation.

“We understand the frustrations local people have at times expressed and we would like to reassure our customers that we are working hard to deliver better bus services. In her decision, the Traffic Commissioner has asked that we make a contribution totalling £20,500 to the schools in Orkney, and we are happy to do so.

“We are currently arranging for this sum to be paid to Orkney Islands Council for onward payment to the schools.”

The Traffic commissioner has clarified that this payment of  £20,500 is not compensatory in nature and does not affect any contractual obligations between the Council and Stagecoach. It is, rather, an ex gratia payment. The Traffic Commissioner decided on this course of action rather than ordering a payment to be made to Scottish Government.

This sum is to be split between schools in the county:

• £1000 is be paid to each of the 11 mainland primary schools.
• A payment of £2,500 will be made to each of the two senior schools, Kirkwall Grammar and Stromness Academy.
• £500 will go to each of the nine Isles schools.

Orkney Islands Council has responded positively to this decision by the traffic commissioner.

“We welcome the outcome of the public inquiry called by the Traffic Commissioner held in Kirkwall on June 5, particularly the decision to distribute the payment locally to our schools,” a council spokeswoman said.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the Traffic Commissioner and Stagecoach on service improvements.”