STRONG SUPPORT IN WESTERN AREA APPEALS
Page 56
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Local Councils Recommend that Bus Services be Licensed AS briefly announced last week, the two appeals , by Burnells Motors, Ltd., of Weston-super-Mare, against the decisions of the Western Traffic Commissioners were heard recently by Mr. R. H. Tolerton, at the Ministry of Transport, London. The first was that against the Commissioners' refusal to grant a licence for a bus service which the company had hitherto been running from Weston-super-Mare to Sand Bay, hy way of the villages of Worle and Kewstoke. The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., objected, and representatives of Weston-super-Mare Urban District Council, which had withdrawn its objection, were also present. Whilst mentioning that the council had no locus standi, Mr. Tolerton agreed' to hear representatives in regard to the Coruniissioners' observations on the council's attitude.
A letter was read from Kew stoke Parish Council, also a resolution from Worle Parish Council, urging that the Ministry should allow the service to continue. For the appellant company it was stated that the application related to a half-hourly service which was commenced in Allay, 1930. As evidence of the necessity of the service, it was stated that in August, 1930, the buses carried 27,268 passengers, and the fact that the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., which ran between Weston and Worle, had, in March this year, applied to run to Sand Bay was mentioned 'as being highly important.
It was admitted that Sand Bay was served by the G.W.R., but only during the summer months and at times fitting in with the trains. The protest of the Weston-super-Mare Council was against observations of the Commissioners with regard to unfairness in the treatment of bus-licence applicants, it being asserted that the council had never shown any unfairness in this respect., The second appeal of Burnells Motors, Ltd., was against the refesal of the Commissioners to permit continuation of a bus service along the sea front at Weston-super-Mare, from the old pier to the village of Uphill, between October and April. In this ease, also, the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., stood as an objector.
For the appellant concern it was stated that figures had been given showing that the number of passengers per motorbus carried during the winter months was between three and four ; even this figure worked out at 8,000 passengers or 10,000 passengers per month.
The Bristol Tramways concern, which had applied for similar powers and been refused, but whieh did not appeal, asked that any concession made to Burnells Motors, Ltd., should also apply to the company. In this case also the Westonsnper-Mare Council made a statement that the suggestion alleged to be made by the Traffic Commissioners, that the council was antagonistic to the tramways, was • entirely wrong. Decisions were reserved.