pd* ball licence kicks off row
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City of Nottingham Transport is perhaps the worst hit operator. It had 16 vehicles delivered after April 1 this year for which grant had already been paid on the chassis but not on the bodywork. It has another group of five buses due for delivery before March 31, 1977 for which it will receive no grant if the grant on the previous 16 vehicles is taken out of the 1976-77 allocation. THE RECENT GRANT of a road service licence to the Manchester United Supporters' Club by the North Western Traffic Commissioners, is having an impact in other traffic areas.
The question of whether the operator or the club should hold licences was further argued, when an application by Jalna Coaches, of Church Gresley, to carry for the Burton-on-Trent branch of the United Supporters' Club came before the East Midland Traffic Commissioners at Nottingham on October 14. Jalna's application was opposed by Viking Motors (Burton) Ltd, and its associate, Victoria Motorways Ltd, on the grounds they were already licensed and had previously carried the traffic.
Conditions were proposed that vehicles be hired as a whole by Manchester United Supporters' Club, that no fares be collected on the vehicles and that only club members should be carried.
Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr C. M. Sheridan, said since the Supporters' Club had been granted a licence in Manchester, it was up to the club to hire any public service vehicles it felt it required. In any event, if vehicles were to be hired to the club as a whole, then the club became the user of the vehicle and should hold the licence.
For Viking and Victoria, Mr J. Langham said the evidence before the North Western Commissioners was that the Manchester United Supporters' Travel Club was the sole agent for coach hire.
For Jalna Coaches, Mr J. S. Hodgson said the North Western licence had been granted to the centrally based Manchester Club for away matches and the evidence only related to that licence.
The Burton branch was a separate entity. The grant of the Manchester licence had been controversial; it was under appeal and it would be unsafe to rely upon that decision. The traditional way to deal with football excursions was to license the coach operator.
Mr W. J. Lloyd, manager of Viking and Victoria, said prices charged were based on the standard fare levels in the area. Since 1967, these fare levels had only risen by 7pc.
Granting the application, Mr Sheridan said the Commissioners were satisfied that the Burton branch was a separate entity to the Manchester Club, who were licence holders.