bird's eye view
Page 35
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by the Hawk • Claim climb
When someone owes you money, do you need to be reminded to ask for it? A lot of people do, it seems. I've recently been talking to Leslie Williamson, that go-getting Midland regional manager for the RTITB (who today wears a new hat as one of the four divisional managers) and he tells me that, when it comes to persuading operators to claim for their training grants, one could be forgiven for thinking that they were being asked for money.
The Board can't win on this one, it seems: if no reminders are sent, the claims fall weeks behind and operators complain that they haven't been reminded. But if reminders are sent out in advance,the Board gets complaints (some quite rude) about the waste of money spent on sending out reminders.
A graph of the claims received is a convincing piece of decoration on the Midlands Region office wall. It starts with a line which barely leaves the "floor" for the first two weeks of the claims period, then rises like the north face of the Eiger, with over 1500 claims to be dealt with in about two weeks. And that is wasteful of staff time—about which operators have also been sharply critical at times. It appears that some of the remedy is in their own hands.
• Conduct becoming
Being a successful bus passenger is not a natural state but is something to be worked at with diligence. At least, so it would seem from the psv regulations under which one is liable to be refused entry or to be chucked off. They range from "using obscene or offensive language" to "entering or travelling in or on a vehicle with loaded firearms."
I'm reminded of all the pitfalls of passengering (not to mention driving and conducting) by Drivers and Conductors Code, a colourful booklet, illustrated with witty little cartoons, which Leicester City Transport provides for its staff. Anyone who has ever tried to put rules and regulations into simple language and remove the bossiness of the official tone will know how difficult it can be. I have, and I take off my hat to the author of this little book, which is a model of good sense, and to the LCT management for producing it so entertainingly. Others please copy.
• Spares claim
Jim Ramsay, secretary of the Scottish goods vehicles maintenance advisory committee, makes a proud claim this New Year's day. Members of his organization are now in a position to obtain spare parts. This apparently has been achieved by the direct approach. Manufacturers' representatives have attended SGVMAC meetings, a very brave thing to do in the circumstances, since they exposed themselves to some severe criticism.
I am sure that any organization which can help to solve a spares problem will have little difficulty in recruiting members. The secretary's address is: 23 Scotland Street, Glasgow C5.
• Rerouted routiers
Yesterday, at the end of the old year, the British branch of Amis des Routiers, Guide des Relais Routiers and Les Routiers moved to a new address at Stanley House, Smarden, Ashford, Kent (phone number is Smarden 516). As Sheila Liebmann, the UK representative, points out to me, the new home is appropriately about halfway between London and Paris.
More to the point, perhaps, a British branch of Les Routiers, that great French organization for lorry drivers, has now been formed, so that British drivers can join on home ground and then enjoy the same advantages as their French colleagues when on the roads of France. Drivers interested in joining should contact Miss Liebmann at the Smarden address above.
Incidentally, Relais Routiers (approved roadside eating and sleeping places for truck drivers, where service and value are good) are now appearing in this country, and there are now 30 on the list. They are shown in the Guide, which is an invaluable aid for drivers in France, and costs 28s from booksellers or 29s 6d from the Smarden address.
• Any offers?
The 2600 residents of the village of Brenchley, in Kent, are showing particular concern over London Country's proposal to withdraw the local bus service. Quite apart from the inconvenience of losing their bus service, their parish council has just spent .E100 on installing a bus shelter, and when you think of it there are not many uses to which you can put a secondhand bus shelter.
• Flat
My feeble little pun about the DoE's Christmas card in last week's column fell evert flatter than it deserved. I wrote: "Not even a royal Gardner", but the printers (understandably) thought I couldn't spell, and added the inevitable "e". Oh, well.