An Office of Fair Trading investigation into Bus Vannin’s dial-a-ride pilot has resumed following a delay caused by Covid-19.

The OFT launched a preliminary investigation earlier this year into claims that dial-a-ride is competing unfairly against the taxi trade.

Like all Bus Vannin services, ConnectVillages is operating under extended emergency powers.

OFT chairman Martyn Perkins MHK said: ’I can confirm that the investigation is ongoing.

’The progress of the investigation was held up by the Covid-19 situation as the OFT was involved in a raft of urgent emergency legislation.

’The investigation is now getting back on track.’

ConnectVillages was launched as a 12-month trial in December 2018, with pre-booked minibuses replacing some scheduled bus services in the north of the island.

There have been claims that cuts to timetabled bus services have left communities such as Jurby cut off.

But supporters say the door-to-door service has proved popular with some.

It’s certainly not been popular with the taxi trade who believe the minibuses constitute state-funded unfair competition which is driving cabbies out of business.

Bus Vannin had sought a regular service licence for ConnectVillages that will cover the whole of Kirk Michael, all areas north of the A3 road between Kirk Michael and Ramsey, and all of the town of Ramsey and Maughold parish.

This was to replace the temporary licence it was given to operate the 12-month trial.

But its application to the Road Transport Licensing Committee was put on hold pending the outcome of the OFT investigation.

Meanwhile, ConnectVillages is operating under emergency powers brought in following the Covid pandemic and subsequently extended by six months to December.

Tynwald approved the emergency powers which sees Bus Vannin’s regular service licence suspended and means it doesn’t have to follow RTLC conditions.