St Martins Preparatory School Limited, which operates school minibuses from Grimsby, has had its public service vehicle operator’s licence suspended and curtailed. The decision was made by Deputy Traffic Commissioner Gerallt Evans at a public inquiry in Leeds on 10 September 2026.
The restricted PSV operator’s licence has been suspended for 14 days, effective from 25 September to 9 October 2026. Additionally, the school's fleet has been reduced from two vehicles to one. The company is also required to conduct an independent audit of its transport safety and compliance systems and appoint a clearly identified responsible person for the licence.
The inquiry heard that concerns regarding maintenance and compliance were first identified in 2024 and later highlighted in an independent audit and investigations by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Commissioner Evans found failures in vehicle maintenance, record keeping, drivers' hours compliance, and wider licensing shortcomings. Directors were found to have delegated responsibility to unqualified staff, with the Commissioner noting "an almost complete lack of effective management control of the operator’s licence."