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Taken for Granted
Page 3
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rTHE extent and diversity of services provided by local authorities I are seldom realized, still less acknowledged, even by those who eventually have to foot the bill, whether as rate payers or tax payers. Nearby road construdion is obviously self-evident hut few appreciate that 1,286 authorities are engaged on similar highway construction throughout the country.
Because of the nature of much of the work performed by local authorities, it tends to be a silent though essential service. Water, drainage and public cleansing are typical examples, whilst the two utilities of gas and electricity—though no longer locally controlled—are in a similar category.
Added to the very persistence of these utility services, there is now a major drive on road construction and house building, much of which will be the responsibility, directly or indirectly, of local authorities. In the passenger field, and therefore much better known, there are more than 19,000 buses and trolleybuses operated by local authorities.
In total, therefore, the Beet of road vehicles employed in performing all these services is both large and diverse. It continues to be a fruitful source of business for those manufacturers and professional hauliers able and prepared to meet the exacting requirements of municipal tenders.