AFTER countless complaints, a handful of petitions and a catalogue of angry letters to the Chronicle over many years, could it finally be the end of the road for First Essex?
The national firm will face a public inquiry on Monday (June 30), holding it to account for the failures of its Essex services. Poor punctuality, frequent breakdowns, irregular services and missing buses are among the litany of complaints directed at the company.
And it is expected that the Traffic Commissioner will decide, following the hearing at Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, next week, whether or not the company should hold onto their licence to operate routes across the county.
Former Chelmsford Borough councillor Bill Horslen, who first requested a formal investigation into First Essex with the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) nearly two years ago, said: "I just want justice. I want the passengers to get some satisfaction that the bus company has been held to account.
"If you go out to catch a bus you expect that it will turn up and when it doesn't, it's no laughing matter. This is millions of pounds of taxpayers' money that they are spending."
It was when Labour supporter Bill was running as a county council candidate in the 2013 elections that he began compiling complaints against the company, in particular the Number 45 route running between Writtle, Westlands and Moulsham Lodge.
Also of assistance were the pages of documents kept and catalogued by secretary of the Waterhouse Farm Residents' Association Mavis Ring over a period of around 15 years.
"Over that time we had some irate meetings with the various management teams and there were promises to do more for us," said retiree Mavis.
"I absolutely think it's not just a problem with the Number 45. You only have to stand at the bus station to listen to the comments of people about the service to see that."
Armed with this bundle of evidence, which Bill estimates amounted to a 100-page document, the retired bus driver posted his case to VOSA months ago, and only learned last week that a formal public inquiry was to take place before the Traffic Commissioner as a result. He said: "I think the problem is endemic across Essex and they get away with it because people aren't prepared to go through this long and complex process which I've gone through.
"I want them to make it easier for others to complain," added Bill, who worked as a driver for Eastern National before being made redundant in 1994, the company that would later be owned by First Buses.
Following the public inquiry on Monday the Traffic Commissioner may issue a formal warning to the company, reduce the number of their vehicles in operation, issue a fine, or ultimately suspend or revoke their licence if he deems it necessary.
However city councillor Mark Springett believes if the worst case scenario for the company is realised, users could find a hole in services.
"If they had their licence taken away then who would take over?" said Cllr Springett, whose Moulsham Lodge ward collected 600 signatures on a petition demanding improvements to the service.
"I'm sure there are solutions that can improve the service rather than removing the licence.
"I hope that the Traffic Commissioner could direct the bus company to manage the problems that they have. I would like the company to have the chance to put it right."
Some of those that have long fought for improvements to bus routes across the county believe First Bus is already moving in the right direction.
Ursula Benjafield, vice-chairman of the Dengie Hundred Bus Users' Group, said: "It takes a long time to turn things around that have been quite neglected.
"There have been a lot of changes over the past two to three years since the economy went into freefall and they made a number of decisions I think they regretted."
When contacted by the Chronicle First Essex simply said: "First Essex can confirm that the Traffic Commissioner has asked us to attend a Public Inquiry on Monday, June 30.
"We are not able to comment further until the Traffic Commissioner's decision and findings have been published."
However in response to yet another letter of complaint (see page 29) in the Chronicle, managing director of First Essex Adrian Jones wrote: "Our teams are working to improve punctuality and reliability.
"Punctuality based on start time departures is some 93 per cent – this has improved and will get better."
Essex County Council said they could not comment on an ongoing legal matter but would "note the outcome" of the inquiry.
