Bennett wins and waits
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BENNETT'S of Kilwinning has won authority to increase the duplication allowance on its Ardrossan to Glasgow service from one to two vehicles, but the Scottish Traffic Commissioners have reserved decision on plans to introduce new services between Kilwinning and Dairy, and Largs and Glasgow.
It was proposed to operate both the new services Monday to Saturday with a 57-seater vehicle with two duplicates if required. All three applications were opposed by Western SMT, Strathclyde PTE, British Rail and Cunninghame District Council. The Dairy service was also opposed by Thomas Paterson and Brown, and the Largs service by Paterson and Brown, Clyde Coast Services, and City of Glasgow District Council.
Western SMT said it already provided an existing 30-minute frequency service over the Kilwinning to Dairy route which Strathclyde Regional Council said was adequate.
The company's network received revenue support from the region and any loss of revenue as a result of abstraction of traffic would have to be met either by increased subsidy or service withdrawal.
A similar situation existed on the Largs to Glasgow route where Western provided a service which served various communities which Bennett was not proposing to serve.
The PTE and British Rail argued that the proposed ser-. vices were unnecessary as there was already adequate public transport over the routes concerned. If the proposed services were operated, British Rail would require more revenue support because it was almost impossible to cut rail services. In the present climate of cash limits any increase in subsidy would have to be balanced by reductions in the PTE bus services.
They also felt that it was premature to consider a limitedstop bus service between Largs and Glasgow before any decision had been taken on proposals for the electrification of the rail services on the Largs to Ardrossan section.