Operator: Forest Coaches Ltd (PSV Licence: PD2012432)
Transport Manager / Director: Simon Andrew Hayes
Regulator: Dr Paul Stookes, Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands
Decision Date: 13 May 2026 (Published 29 June 2026)
Executive Summary
Following a series of maintenance failures—highlighted by an “S-marked” illegal tyre prohibition and a subsequent unsatisfactory DVSA investigation—Forest Coaches Ltd was called to a Public Inquiry. The regulator determined that the sole director and Transport Manager, Simon Hayes, had spread himself too thinly across operational roles, severely compromising road safety and compliance.
While the operator escaped total revocation by implementing immediate structural changes, the Traffic Commissioner issued a serious penalty: refusing an expansion application, curtailing the fleet by 50% for one month, and imposing strict, legally binding undertakings.
Context & Background
Forest Coaches Ltd is a standard international Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator based in the West Midlands, operating from depots in Leominster and Bucknell. The company’s core business is the provision of school bus and coach services.
At the time of the inquiry, the operator was authorised for 6 vehicles. In January 2026, the company applied to increase its authorisation to 8 vehicles to expand operations. However, a history of critical maintenance defects triggered a formal review into the operator’s good repute and professional competence.
The Catalyst: Key Maintenance & Tyre Failures
The regulatory intervention was primarily driven by failing preventative maintenance standards, with tyre safety standing out as a critical indicator of poor oversight:
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The “S-Marked” Tyre Prohibition (July 2025): Vehicle M25FCL was issued an S-marked prohibition because a tyre tread was worn beyond the legal limit, accompanied by a break in the fabric.
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Systemic Deficiencies: A subsequent DVSA Maintenance Investigation Visit Report (MIVR) marked 7 assessment areas as “unsatisfactory.” The operator also demonstrated a history of failing to comply with a previous 2022 public inquiry undertaking regarding the retention of roller brake testing records.
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Chronic Oversight Issues: A follow-up DVSA Pre-Inquiry report in April 2026 highlighted continuing concerns regarding a worn tyre and inadequate driver defect reporting, proving that the operator’s preventative maintenance circle remained broken.
📌 The Significance of the “S-Mark”
In regulatory terms, an “S-marked” prohibition is uniquely damaging. It indicates a clear failure of inspection systems, signifying to the Traffic Commissioner that the tyre defect was a product of neglect and should have been caught during routine daily driver walk-around checks or scheduled preventative inspections.
Regulatory Findings & Analysis
The Deputy Traffic Commissioner made formal adverse findings under Section 17(3) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, noting breaches regarding fit and serviceable vehicles, driver defect reporting, and licence conditions.
The root cause of the non-compliance was identified as a structural flaw in management:
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The “Too Many Hats” Dilemma: Mr Hayes was simultaneously acting as the sole company director, the designated Transport Manager, the vehicle maintenance manager, and a part-time driver.
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Regulatory Impact: By attempting to execute every role, critical compliance tasks were missed. The regulator explicitly noted that spreading management too thinly to the detriment of road safety is entirely unacceptable, and subsequent apologies were inadequate.
The Verdict & Sanctions
The case was ruled as serious to moderate. While the regulator noted that the operator’s repute was “severely tarnished but not lost,” formal disciplinary action was deemed necessary to act as a deterrent.
| Regulatory Action | Impact on Operator |
| Application Refused | The request to increase fleet authorisation from 6 to 8 vehicles was officially denied. |
| Licence Curtailment | Authorisation was slashed from 6 vehicles to 3 for a 4-week period (24 July 2026 to 21 August 2026). |
Note on Penalty Timing: The curtailment was strategically timed during the summer holidays to heavily penalise the operator and allow them 10 days to fully prepare the remaining fleet, without disrupting active school transport contracts.
Mandated Corrective Action Plan
To preserve the remaining licence, Forest Coaches Ltd was forced to give strict, legally binding undertakings:
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Independent Auditing: The operator must submit a comprehensive, independent third-party transport safety and compliance audit by 30 November 2026.
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Mandatory Restructuring: The operator must legally appoint a second, independent Transport Manager to the licence alongside Mr Hayes by 30 November 2026 to ensure continuous and effective management.
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Compulsory Training: Mr Hayes and the compliance manager must complete a 2-day practical transport management course, and an additional external consultant must be retained for at least 12 months to oversee systemic changes.
Key Takeaways for Transport Operators
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Tyres are a Leading Indicator of Safety: Regulatory bodies view tyre defects as direct evidence of an operator’s safety culture. An S-marked tyre defect is treated as a systemic failure of driver walk-around checks and management oversight.
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The Danger of Owner-Operator Fatigue: Combining the roles of Director, Transport Manager, and Driver creates a compliance blind spot. Traffic Commissioners expect robust, separated lines of management to maintain vehicle integrity.
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Proactive Rectification Saves Licences: Forest Coaches Ltd avoided complete revocation because they hired a compliance manager and independent consultant before stepping into the inquiry room. Immediate, proactive restructuring is the only way to demonstrate future compliance trust.