Hamilton bus operator John Carson's licence revoked
A South Lanarkshire bus operator has had his licence revoked by the Traffic Commissioner after he failed to prove his financial standing.
The industry regulator heard John Carson, who was trading as WJC Buses, had been sequestrated following action by HM Revenue and Customs over a £90,000 tax bill.
An inquiry also learned of problems with the standard of his vehicles.
Mr Carson ran school contracts and private hire work in the Hamilton area.
During the hearing, Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken heard police had stopped one of the operator's vehicles on the A8 last September.
An examiner from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) reported that the vehicle was prohibited after it was found to have a worn tyre and a problem with the suspension.
The VOSA officer also told the hearing that other prohibitions had been issued, including one for loose wheel nuts and another for passenger seats being insecure.
In his evidence to Miss Aitken, Mr Carson said he could not provide financial evidence to support his licence and that he had trusted his accountant to make sure payments were being made to HMRC.
He also told the commissioner that he had made an offer to settle a £90,000 bill with the agency, but this did not succeed.
Miss Aitken told Mr Carson his licence had to come to an end as a result of his sequestration and failure to demonstrate financial standing, which is a mandatory requirement.
Mr Carson advised the regulator's clerk before the hearing that he had gone out of business in April.