Passengers left in lurch

A BUS firm claims passengers were left stranded at the weekend after its licence to operate two late-night routes from Town was cancelled.

Terry Le Maitre, a director of Guernsey Chauffeur Drive, has criticised the move by Environment which forced it to pull the services four hours before they were due to start running at 9pm. He said the department withdrew permission for the routes – to the Bridge/L'Ancresse and St Martin's – at 5 on Friday, claiming that the company had breached licensing rules.

In a statement yesterday Mr Le Maitre said: 'The department has acted in a totally irresponsible manner, removing a service widely used both by the young and young at heart and with a degree of haste rarely, if ever, seen in States departments.'

The company plans to appeal against the decision in the Royal Court and wants its licence reinstated pending the outcome. It will seek an injunction against Environment in order to restore the service as quickly as possible