Minibus operator let-off with warning

An Oldham minibus operator has escaped with a formal warning for failing to maintain his vehicle properly.

Mohammed Arif (42), whose company Mohammed Arif Transport is based in Worcester Street, Werneth, was given the warning by North-West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell after inspectors found that his minibus was almost three weeks overdue for a routine maintenance inspection.

As well as regularly failing to ensure that his minibus was checked every 10 weeks or less, officials from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency found that Mr Arif had no proper timetable in place for future inspections when they first visited him in April, 2010.

Despite a follow up inspection and an official warning letter from the traffic commissioner’s office, Mr Arif failed to address the problem.

He was found to have breached section 17 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act (1981).