PASSENGER transport operators are the target of a new initiative to improve safety on the town's roads.

Buses, coaches, taxis and minibuses will be the subject of 'multi-agency' spot-checks as borough council transport chiefs join forces with the police, Benefits Agency and the vehicle inspectorate at the Department of Transport to ensure that the vehicles, their drivers and their paperwork are all in order.

The first-spot checks took place at Great Sankey High School on Tuesday when eight school buses were examined. A fault was discovered on one of these vehicles and it was immediately removed from public service. The operator later produced documents to prove the vehicle had been maintained.

Passenger Transport Coordinator Barry Eaton said: "The operator will not be losing the contract, but we have taken action after speaking to the vehicle inspectorate for its views.

"This is the first in a series of checks on buses, taxis and minibuses. Our prime concern is safety and vehicle neglect is a threat to passengers."

The checks are the first carried out by Warrington Borough Council as a unitary authority. The responsibility for passenger transport was passed over after the town took control from Cheshire County Council. Further spot-checks will be carried out on buses, coaches, minibuses, private hire taxis and hackney cabs in the coming weeks.

As the passenger transport unit approaches its first birthday in April, the team of staff are celebrating a successful year.

A new code of conduct has been agreed for taxi and private hire drivers which includes a dress code, disability awareness training and a penalty points system. A new colour-coded map which shows all the town's bus routes and public footpaths has been printed, new scholars bus passes have been produced and the bus, rail and National Express information hot-line has been improved leading to an increase in calls from 15 to 130 per day. The authority was also successful in obtaining a £60,000 government grant for each of three years to provide four new rural bus services.

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