Strong Opposition to Station Plan
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THAT at a cost of £64,000 the company had already provided two bus stations in Leeds for the use of itself and certain associated companies, was the ground of an objection by West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., against Leeds Corporation's scheme for the construction of a central bus station in the city, at a Ministry of Transport inquiry, last Friday. The inquiry concerned the corporation's application for confirmation of an Order appointing a triangular area between St. Peter's Street, York Street and Somerset Street as the site for the station.
Mr. A. G. Dennis, on behalf of the West Yorkshire and other companies using the two existing stations, said that neither of them brought in
revenue. His clients should not be asked at any time to use the corporation's projected station for the services which they operated from the two stations already provided.
Mr. II. R. McDowell, for the corporation, said it was not proposed now or in the future, so far as the muni cipality could see at present, to ask the West Yorkshire company to use the projected bus station. The corporation. however, could not give an undertaking in perpetuity not to bring these services within the scope of the projected station.
Mr. McDowell said that there was onlv one point against the site for the projected station—it was from half to three-quarters of a mile from the railway stations. The corporation was, however, prepared to consider running a shuttle service to link up the bus and railway stations.
It was proposed at present to construct only part of the premises, including six platforms with concrete and glass shelters, to accommodate between 36 and 48 buses. More platforms, with a café and other amenities, would be added later.
In respect of the first stage of the scheme, it was proposed to ask the Traffic Commissioners to arrange for such a proportion of privately owned and municipal services to use the station as would give an estimated average of 1,489 stage-carriage departures per day. Excursions and tours would probably reach 100 per day and 168 on Bank Holidays.
On this basis it was calculated that the net annual cost of the station, including loan and administration charges, would be £4,500, and that a charge of 2d. per departure would bring in £4,518. The corporation had no intention of running the station as a money-making concern.
Mr. W. R. Hargrave, representing the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., Yorkshire Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd., Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., and Rabble Motor Services. Ltd., which were among the objectors, said that his clients had never denied that the time was ripe for the erection of a bus station in Leeds, but the scheme now put forward would mean consider able extra expense to them. •