'Alarm' over bus company linked to firm facing ban

Concerns have been raised that a bus company is continuing to run services in Herefordshire while a linked firm is to be banned over safety concerns.

Yeomans Travel operates about 40 public services, including school-only runs in the county.

The Hereford firm has the same sole director as Lugg Valley Travel, which was told it could not put on services for four years following an inquiry into the safety of its fleet.

A Yeomans spokesman said the sanctions were "nothing to do with this company".

The Lugg Valley investigation followed a fire on a bus operated by the firm in November 2024, but branded in Yeomans livery.

The inquiry told director Nigel Yeomans he would be banned from holding an operators licence from December 31.

Lugg Valley stepped back from operating public services in the county in the summer, but Yeomans Travel continues to operate, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Both have been listed under the same address and Companies House records lists Nigel Yeomans as sole director for both.

Jago Frost, from local pressure group Rail & Bus for Herefordshire, said: "The Lugg Valley situation definitely raises concerns as to the owner's attitude to safety, and it would be fair to say that we are alarmed."

Meanwhile, it has emerged Yeomans Travel no longer operates the National Express bus service between Hereford and London.

A National Express spokesperson said the decision was made after the public inquiry.

They added: "The safety of our customers, employees and the public is our number one priority. Following a public inquiry, we have suspended Yeomans from operating our services and the 445 service between Hereford and London will be covered by our other partner operators."

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said the authority undertook "due diligence" checks, including checks on safety standards compliance.

He said: "Our priority is to maintain continuity of services while ensuring public safety, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and liaise with Yeomans and the relevant authorities."

At the DVSA, a spokesperson said Lugg Valley Travel was investigated because that was the specific operator of the bus which caught fire.

A spokesman for the Traffic Commissioner's office said it acted upon submissions from the relevant bodies, adding: "Any investigations into Yeomans Travel would be a separate undertaking from the DVSA."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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