Kent County Council has confirmed that a suspended manager of its coach business is no longer with the company.

It followed the council’s decision to withdraw from bus and coach services this year, including the Canterbury Park and Ride service. Gavin Grant, Kent Top Travel’s operations manager who formed a new company Kent Top Travel Limited, was suspended pending further inquiries and a disciplinary hearing after sending an email to clients served by the existing service.

In the email, he stated that he would “remain” as operations manager, adding: “We are therefore happy to announce that we can offer a continuity of service to all of our clients. As we move forward with this new enterprise, we will be ensuring that not only do we provide continuity, but that you will see an overall improvement in the services we offer.”

The email upset private operators who claimed that by using internal client information before he left the business, Mr Grant enjoyed an unfair advantage. A manager at a bus and coach firm in the private sector alleged it was akin to insider dealing. He added that other firms had the right to quote for work but did not enjoy similiar privileged access to the same data.

A KCC spokesman said: “I can confirm that the disciplinary hearing with Gavin Grant was held last week and he no longer works for the company. There is, however, a legal process to follow and until this is completed, we are unable to give any further details.”

In an earlier statement, KCC said: “No part of Kent Top Travel, its staff or vehicles will be transferred to Mr Grant nor will any of its contracts be given to him. Contracts have and will continue to be competed for on the open market.”

Meanwhile, Stagecoach has won the five-year contract to run the Canterbury Park and Ride bus service.