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Ayrshire gains now

20th March 1982, Page 15
20th March 1982
Page 15
Page 15, 20th March 1982 — Ayrshire gains now
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

STRATHCLYDE Regional Council and British Rail have failed in their bid to block another independent seeking a stage service into Glasgow.

In granting an application by Mrs H. Bennett, trading as Bennetts of Kilwinning, for a service between Ardrossan and Glasgow CM March 6), the Scottish Traffic Commissioners have said that this is not similar to the McGill's Bus Service case (CM January 30 and February 6), and they cannot accept that future interests should prevail.

Strathclyde and BR maintained that the existing services were adequate and that any abstraction of traffic could lead to a possible reduction in service levels. Strathclyde made the point that any loss of revenue could lead it to review its decision to finance the electrification of the rail line linking Glasgow, Ayr and Ardrossan.

Western SMT also objected, on the similar ground that its existing services over the routes could be endangered if there was a substantial loss of traffic to the new service.

The Commissioners said that the existing rail service was clearly not satisfactory. There was an increasing number of complaints, and no possibility of satisfying them in the near future. The Commissioners were being asked to refuse an application which would bring immediate benefit for the reason that many might benefit from electrification in five years time.

There was no present threat to the rail line and the Commissioners could not see that electrification would inevitably be abandoned if the application was granted.

They also were conscious of the fact that Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Ki!winning and Irvine lay outside the Strathclyde PTE area, and therefore conflict between the 1968 and 1980 Transport Acts did not arise.

To accept the objectors' arguments would be to "concur in the ossification" of the transport system between the Ayrshire Coast and Glasgow until the railway line was electrified in five years time, if then. That was clearly not in the public interest. Nor did the Commissioners view the threat to existing bus services as being sufficient to outweigh the advantages of the new service.

AT LEAST 14 different coachbuilders are expected to be represented by competing or exhibiting vehicles at this year's Brighton Coach Rally which is to be held on April 24/25. The rally is expected to follow the format of previous rallies, with a road section and both driver and vehicle concours d'elegance awards.


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