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The future of a community transport charity is in doubt after it lost its remaining council contracts.

Phoenix Community Transport has been operating for around 25 years, providing transport to Trinity Fields School pupils and social services.

However, the not-for-profit organisation, based at Penmaen Industrial Estate, Pontllanfraith, has now lost its three remaining school contracts, after it was caught using a vehicle without an MOT and using another which had been declared off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification.

Caerphilly County Borough Council terminated the contracts after it was told of the vehicles and had demanded paperwork from the charity.

Kevin Cegielski, director of Phoenix Community Transport, said he and other trustees had been let down by people employed by the charity and blamed the disruption Covid had wrought on the organisation.

When the pandemic struck, all contracts were halted – meaning the charity had no income. Mr Cegielski said that while the school transport had resumed, social services had not.

Several of the charity’s vehicles were declared to the DVLA as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) to save money on insurance. Administrative errors, he said, meant things were missed as the charity began operating its vehicles again.

“The buck stops with the directors and the trustees”

Apologising for what happened Mr Cegielski said: “It’s been difficult. I don’t know what happened.”

He said the charity had been fighting an increasingly competitive environment for years – with other providers beating them to contracts on price.

Mr Cegielski added: “It’s sad really. [The trustees] have given a lot of time to the charity. We’ve had ups and downs but have always got through.

“The writing’s been on the wall for a number of years, but it is all to do with price. We’ve tried to keep a good ship, but we cannot excuse the fact that paperwork was not correct.

“The buck stops with the directors and the trustees.”

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Property said: “As soon as we were made aware, we terminated the contract with immediate effect.

“We acted swiftly and I can confirm that alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure children are able to be transported to Trinity Fields and back home.

“Children’s safety is paramount to us, so quick and decisive action has been taken.”