Coach Holidays More Popular
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WITH increasing prosperity in the VI' industrial district of Shropshire, more people are becoming interested in extended coach tours to holiday areas, Mr. Howard Tranter, secretary of the Shropshire Omnibus Association, told the West Midland Traffic Commissioners on Tuesday.
" With the rise in their standard of living, people are thinking more and more about these extended tours instead of their pre-war ideas of half-day or day trips, or a week by the seaside," he said.
Mr. K. Mynett was applying on behalf of the Association for tours to Devon and Cornwall, the South Coast, Wales, East Anglia and the Norfolk Broads, and Scotland and the Isle of Skye. It was proposed that the tours, from April to November, should last from six to 12 days. The vehicle allowance would be one, with a maximum of three in any one week.
The application, said Mr. Mynett, was in respect of five member concerns— G. Cooper and Son, Oakengates; H. Brown and Sons, Donnington; Martlew and Sons, Donnington; A. T. Brown, Trench, and J. E. Lowe and Sons, Hadley. • There were objections by G. H. Austin arid Sons, Ltd., Salopia Saloon Coaches, ltd.. Jones Coachways, Ltd., Worthington Motor Tours, Ltd., and the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. Yeoman's, Miller and Co., Ltd., withdrew their objection, but asked the Commissioners to note their comments.
Mr. Mynett said picking-up points within an eight-mile radius of Oaken gates were sought, although the great majority of passengers would come from a four-mile radius.
This was the primary industrial area of Shropshire. occupied by well-paid people. No operator of extended tours had picking-up points in the area.
Mr. Albert Perkins, chairman of Oakengates Urban District Council, said the council wholeheartedly supported the application as a service which was badly needed.
Answering Mr. J. Else, for three of the objectors, he agreed that the council had not had any representations from the public about the matter. It had been raised by a councillor, he said.
Representing the headmaster of Trench Boys' Secondary Modern School, Mr. James Kerry, a member of the staff, said the feeling in the area was that it was a nuisance to have to go to another town to start a holiday.
The hearing was adjourned until April.