A small bus operator has referred Cardiff Council’s stewardship of Cardiff Central bus station to the Office of Fair Trading.
Businessman Clayton Jones was originally told his St David’s Travel services – competing against council-owned Cardiff Bus – would cause ‘serious health and safety problems’, if it operated from the bus station.
However, most Cardiff Bus services have stopped using the bus station (Surveyor, 2 October) and Jones said there were ‘massive commercial issues’ if a competitor to the council’s bus company was denied use of the facility. A council spokesman said Mr Jones was receiving the same treatment as any other operator.
Mr Jones referred the issue to the OFT and said Cardiff Council had agreed that his new 61A service to the suburb of Pentrebane could use the bus station when it began on 22 October. Cardiff Bus’ 61 service to Pentrebane continues to use the bus station.
Last year, the OFT found Cardiff Bus guilty of predation to eliminate a rival, and now proposes a full investigation into Britain’s bus market.
Mr Jones sold his previous bus company to Veolia Transport three years ago. In May, the traffic commissioner warned that if Mr Jones competed against Cardiff Bus, safety and timekeeping checks on both operators would be ‘prioritised’.
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