Board and Council Conflict Over Use of New Bus Station
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FROM G. DUNCAN JEWELL HYDE, Tuesday THERE was a conflict between the StaIybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Transport Board and one of their constituent authorities, Hyde Borough Council, before the North Western Traflic Commissioners here today. The Board, Manchester Transport Department and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., were resisting the re-routeing of services through the council's new bus station in George Street. and the proposed charges for its use.
Mr. C. Spence, for the council, said that when the council and the Board met in December it was reluctantly agreed that bus stops within 300 yards of the station should continue to be used for a trial period of a year. He stated that it was understood then that all the bus services would employ the station.
It came as a surprise, therefore, when there were objections to the diversion of the Manchester-Hyde-Glossop and Stalybridge-Hyde-Marple through services to the station.
For the operators, " Mr, W. R. Hargrave submitted that the proposed diversions were contrary to the public interest. The council were advocating the principle that all services must use a bus station because the council had built it.
Too many stations on through routes tended to slow down services and make them less attractive to the public. This was particularly the case where there was rail competition.
Opinion Poll Taken
The views of 766 passengers on the Manchester service using the stop in the town centre at Greenfield Street had been ascertained. A total of 510 people had opted for no change, 132 approved the move, and 124 were undecided.
Mr. D. L. Fitch, traffic manager of the North Western company, said that the effect of re-routeing the Stalybridge service would be to add 3,373 to annual mileage. This might necessitate a fares increase.
The Commissioners reserved their decision. Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, acted as an inspector of the Ministry of Transport to hear the dispute over the proposed station charges.
Mr. Spence said that the station had been built and was now standing idle because of lack of agreement with the operators. The project had cost £12,000, and nine bus shelters were provided. It was estimated that 254.000 departures would be made each year and that running costs would be £3.245.
Low charges were desired, and the council were prepared to contribute £435 a year, the equivalent of a rate of a third of a penny. Operators were asked to pay 3d. per departure. There was no wish to make a profit, but the station ought to be paid for by the travelling public.
The council had reserved the land for a station for many years and resisted making more profitable development. A loan of £9,000 was to be sought for improvements, and it was proposed to charge a rental for inspectors' and crews' rooms.
Mr. F. S. Brimbow, general manager of the Board, said that the undertakings considered that nearly a third of the area of the station was not peculiar to bus operation and should not be charged to them. Neither should the operators be charged • with the cost of the public
lavatories. There should also be sonic allowance for advertising revenue and the letting of concessions.
It was too often assumed, said Mr. Hargrave, that the ideal answer to congestion was to turn bus operators off the streets into a bus station at their own expense for the convenience of other people. He thought that the most that the operators should bear was half of the station's cost, and that a reasonable charge would be Id. per departure.
The Minister's decision will he announced later.
COACH CONCERN SOLD THE whole share capital of Duncan I McDougall. Ltd., Oban, coach operators, has been acquired by Mr. and Mrs. W. Bryce Johnston, Kilbrandon, Grangemouth, from Miss Isa McDougall and her sisters. Miss McDougall has been managing director for the past 19 years.