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Local coach company boycotting Merry Hill Road due to vehicle and passenger safety concerns!

“The most important thing for me is the safety of my passengers and this road is not suitable to drive down.”

MET coaches owner, Peter Evans, is facing calls from his drivers to veto the use of Merry Hill Road in Bushey as a result of its very poor upkeep. The “disintegrating” road has become a serious safety concern for drivers and passengers alike.

Safety is paramount

Safety is one of the cornerstones of the firm. As such, when extensive measures are taken to ensure coaches are fitted with the latest safety features in addition to regular stringent testing it may drive the businessman and his staff to extreme measures when unmaintained roads are putting his drivers and passengers at risk:

“It is a health and safety risk. More and more traffic is coming up from the other end of the road and my coaches have to be in the middle of the road to avoid the potholes.

“Something will probably get done if someone had an accident and died. I just do not understand why it is taking so long. I have repeatedly contacted the council about fixing the road and they have not done anything yet.”

Supporting local people & local businesses

The chronic problem is more than a safety issue. Business owners are faced with an endless amount of challenges when trying to make their firm a success. This begs the question; why then isn’t more done to not only help them succeed but also remove basic obstacles such as these from their path.

“The road is just disgraceful. The potholes on the road are causing severe damage to my coaches…If I had my way I would stop my coaches going there. My coaches are worth £200,000.”

It goes without saying that this an issue for more than bus passengers. The residents of the affluent area must face similar issues. Particularly as road damage like potholes can be even more destructive for smaller vehicles:

“When the houses are built they will probably be sold for around £1m but why would people spend that on houses if the road is unfit for purpose…All the people around here have expensive cars and I cannot understand why no one has complained before.”

Can more be done?

Kevin Carrol, working on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council made the following statement: “We are aware of local concerns with the condition of the road surface in Merry Hill Road, Bushey. These concerns were also highlighted as part of the annual safety inspection that was completed here back in June. Carriageway repairs works at various locations along Merry Hill road are planned here in late October.”

Given the safety concerns and the cost to users of the road, in the form of repairs etc, the question remains; should it in fact be far sooner?

MET coaches were established in 1995 and have since grown to become one of the biggest coach operators in South Herts. One of the keys to their success has been their dedication to the safety of their drivers and passengers. In addition to safety the coaches are spacious and comfortable. To learn more get in touch to discuss your needs.