Pensioner's paint pain

A pensioner and RAF veteran was thrown off a city bus because he was carrying a tin of paint.

Grandad Brian Heale, 73, boarded a No 9 Cardiff Bus on Penarth Road at 9am yesterday with a can of water-based emulsion he had just bought from MA Jones paint store.

He was hoping to travel just two stops, to catch another bus to a friend's house to do some decorating for him. But as he sat down, the driver told him carrying paint might be against company regulations and after a call to head office, Mr Heale was told he had to get off.

Suffering shortness of breath after two heart attacks and unable to make the 20-minute walk to his friend's house in Leckwith, he had to go to a local cafe and get a lift from the manager.

Mr Heale has now branded the ruling 'crazy'.

'It's absolutely hysterical - you won't be able to take a wet umbrella on a bus in case it drips water on the floor next,' said Mr Heale, of Clive Street, Grangetown, a former self-employed decorator, who served with the RAF for 20 years.

'That could be a hazard. I don't understand why water-based emulsion is banned. It isn't a fire hazard. It can be washed away if it's spilled.

'I bought it at 9am and wanted to get the bus to Clare Road to catch another bus to my friend's house in Langham Way, Leckwith.

'I got on and sat down then the bus driver said, 'Excuse me, you're carrying paint, I don't think you can come on with that, it's against regulations'.

'I thought he was joking but he parked the bus while he called head office. Then he told me carrying the paint doesn't meet their new guidelines and I had to get off.

'It was cold and had started to rain. I got off and went back to the Black and White cafe on Penarth Road and the manager gave me a lift.'I just think it's comical. I've carried paint on the buses many times.'

Cardiff Bus said paint was classed as a hazardous article under national public transport guidelines as it could spill and cause accidents. It must be sealed in a pot and in a bag to be carried on buses.

A Cardiff Bus spokesperson said: 'The safety of our passengers is our number one priority which is why the company takes regulations on health and safety very seriously and attempts at all times to adhere to the regulations. However, the company does accept that in certain circumstances more flexibility needs to be displayed and we apologise to the gentleman involved for the obvious inconvenience that this incident caused.'

What's banned on the buses? Cardiff Bus says items classed as hazardous articles which must not be carried on public service vehicles under national guidelines include:

Panes of glass

Gas cylinders

Guns

Open bladed tools

Swords

Petrol

Paraffin

Paint - unless it is carried in two containers ie in a sealed pot and a bag, and is not left unattended on a parcel shelf where it could slide and tip, burst open and spread across the floor.