OLDHAM'S BUSES FOR A.R.P. DUTIES
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE deputy A.R.P. Transport Officer at Oldham, Mr. John Gray, explains why; during an air raid, the municipal bus fleet is placed at the disposal of the A.R.P. and A.F.S. services. It had been proposed that second-line transport for the towing of trailer pumps, the carrying of personnel, and even for use as emergency ambulances, should be provided by private individuals loaning their vehicles and drivers as and when required. This arrangement of supplying second-line vehicles had certain inherent weaknesses. Whilst the owners had, in all good faith, undertaken ' to allow their vehicles to be used, whenever an air-raid warning was sounded, there was always the possibility that in the " small " hours, when raids are, perhaps, most likely, the vehicles would be garaged.
Further, it was realized that many commercial vehicles are loaded each night ready for an early departure the following day, and the time lost in unloading the vehicles prior to their being able to undertake civil-defence work might have serious consequences. Again, through the daytime, such vehicles might be many miles away from Oldham and as a result could not be of any use.
To meet that situation the alternatives were (1) to increase the first-line strength by the purchase or hiring of more vehicles, or (2) to put at the disposal of the civil-defence authority such vehicles as the corporation already owned. The adoption of the first suggestion would have involved the public in heavy expenditure, whilst the second seemed the more practical because the civil defence services could make use of vehicles.which (a) could be readily available, (b) over which absolute control could be exercised, and (c) would cost nothing in hiring charges.
As a result, Oldham Passenger Transport Department agreed to place its bus fleet at the disposal of the A.R.P. and A.F.S. services.
When buses are withdrawn from their routes for A.R.P. duties, special re-board tickets are issued to passengers leaving the bus to take shelter. So soon as a raid is over, the buses return to their normal work.