Additional Night Owl services operated by Bus Vannin are existing in a ’grey area’, the chairman of the Road Transport Licensing Committee said.

Brendan O’Friel was speaking during a heated discussion between director of public transport Ian Longworth and taxi drivers while Bus Vannin’s application to run the new 1.15am services was being heard.

Mr O’Friel intervened between Mr Longworth and taxi driver Billy O’Neil after the public transport boss said he believed he had the authority to run the extra services without seeking formal RTLC approval as the services were being run as ’special extras’.

Mr Longworth said: ’We normally have the authority to run these such services as one-offs. The application was made as it is likely the services will become a permanent change.’

He added that the RTLC was there to decide whether Bus Vannin would be able to support the 2019 anti-drink-drive campaign, which this year has been co-ordinated between Bus Vannin and the emergency services.

In response, Mr O’Neil said to the committee: ’Mr Longworth takes the view he has the authority to run this service. I just want to ask, does he?’

Mr O’Friel said: ’It is a grey area and so we are here to resolve it.’

Mr O’Neil said that he did not oppose the concept of extra Night Owl services, rather he was criticising the way it had come about.

’Were this service not being run without permission, I wouldn’t care,’ he said.

He accused the Department of Infrastructure and Bus Vannin of trying to strong arm the RTLC into doing what the department and company wanted.

Mr O’Neil suggested a pattern had emerged under Mr Longworth’s leadership where changes were made and then forced through because the money had already been spent.

’In my view, these buses are being operated without a licence,’ he said.

Mr Longworth strongly denied the claim: ’Nothing has been done without a licence’.

Another taxi driver, John Faragher said he was shocked that Bus Vannin had carried out the late night services, saying it goes against the 2001 Road Transport Act, by which buses and taxis are bound.

Mr Faragher also asked why taxis, from all firms, had been dropped from this year’s anti-drink-drive campaign, having for so long been connected to the scheme before the police and Bus Vannin based this year’s campaign on the Night Owl services.

A spokesman for the DoI said: ’Isle of Man Transport is a licenced operator and has RTLC approval to add and remove additional services during holiday and peak periods without specific reference to them.

’At the recent public hearing this was acknowledged by the chairman. For example, it doesn’t register its intention to operate additional services for the Royal Manx Agricultural Show or during TT.

’Verbal approval has been received from the RTLC for the service to continue.’