PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 59
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
LOUGHBOROUGH'S NEW BODYBUILDING WORKS. I 1 The Enterprise of the Local Authorities Helps to Establish a New Factory in a Growing Centre.
IN seeking a position for its contemplated new works, the Willowbrook Co., constructors of omnibus bodies, of Belgrave Gate; Leicester, finally, after inspecting sites and considering facilities that were offered it by the local authorities in various towns, decided on a site which was available in Loughborough, the local authorities in that town going out of their way to encourage the firm to select Loughborough as the centre of its activities.
The Willowbrook Co. carried on business in Leicester for 25 years, first of all building car bodies but, in recent years, concentrating on motorbus-body construction, and it was the growth of this business that compelled it to seek more extensive premises.
The new works have been laid down in Derby Road, Loughborough, and comprise a three-span building of sufficient height throughout to take covered-top double-deck buses, and there is room on the floor of the main building for work to proceed on 50 buses at one time. It
is anticipated that the output of the new works will very shortly reach a bus per day.
Loughborough is quite a good centre for a works of this character, as bus and tramcar bodies have been constructed in the town for many years, whilst the geographical position of the town is extremely good when considered from the point of -riew of bus construction.
The works are complete in every sense of the term, and all modern requirements have been met in every department. The sawmill and the wood-working departments are accommodated in a separate building at the rear of the main structure. There is a very large timber storage area and sufficient space to permit the doubling of the size of the present building. The offices are situated in the front of the building and there are a canteen and recreation room for the use of the employees.
We believe that -Mr. T. H. Holt, the managing director of the, company, has resided in Loughborough for some years, and we understand that members of the staff are building houses for themselves in the town. This is an instance of the importance of foresight and enterprise on the part of local authorities in encouraging the establishment of new businesses in the areas under their control.