First faces Princes Street bus ‘wheel loss’ probe

THE loss of a wheel from a bus in Edinburgh’s Princes Street by operator First Scotland East is to be examined at a hearing by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner for Scotland in the capital tomorrow.

A First Group bus. Picture: TSPL

The firm, which operates from Livingston, Musselburgh and North Berwick, will also be asked to explain why a vehicle was used when it was under a prohibition by the police.

The deputy traffic commissioner is due to hear the findings of a UK Government Vehicle and Operator Services Agency investigation into the incident in March and the company’s vehicle maintenance procedures.

A spokesman for the commissioner added: “He will also consider the issue of prohibition notices to vehicles for defects and the use of a vehicle while under prohibition by the police.”

First Scotland East managing director Paul Thomas said: “Tomorrow’s public inquiry is an opportunity for us to demonstrate in detail to the deputy traffic commissioner our rigorous safety and maintenance procedures following an incident involving one of our buses in March.”