Nottingham Case " Premature A N application by Nottingham 1- 1Transport Department to
Page 34
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
extend a route through West Bridgford to a housing estate being . developed at Clifton was strongly opposed before the East Midland Licensing Authority. Part of the route to be extended was to
run over a bridge not yet built, .
The objectors were West Bridgford Urban District Council, the South Notts Bus Co., Ltd. and Barton Transport. Ltd. Mr. L. VV. A. While; representing Barton 'Transport, Ltd., suggested that the Authority had no power to give a decision in respect of h route running over a non-existent bridge. After a retirement, the Authority announced that that part of the application which related to projected roads was prernatore.
For the applicant. Mr. R. O. F. Hickman submitted that it would be extremely unjust if the undertaking were to lose many of its existing passengers who were moving to the new estate outside the Nottingham boundary. The hearing was adjourned sine die.
FARES RAISED: TRAFFIC LOST
ON one route operated by Hull Transport Department, virtually all traffic was lost, it is reported, when fares were doubled. In the past seven weeks, nearly lm. fewer passengers have been carried by the whole undertaking, but revenue has increased by £17,000.
A planning proposal that public service vehicles be prohibited from the central shopping area of Hull, but should circulate around it, has been criticized by traders.
POOL TO STAY
Wthe Abadan refinery out of W action, the question of abandoning pool petrol and allowing the sale of branded fuels cannot be considered at present. The Minister of Fuel and Power made this statement this week.
• MR. BIRCH CHALLENC ES MR. CALLAGHAN
LAST week, Mr. John Birch, chairman of the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association, accused Mr. James Callaghan, M.P., of having tried to make political capital out of a remark by Mr. Birch at the Association's annual dinner. Mr. Birch was complaining of a statement made in the House of Commons by Mr. Callaghan during the debate on the Address in reply to the King's Speech.
In a letter to Mr. Callaghan, Mr. Birch said: "You went so far as to adduce it as 'evidence' that the road hauliers (who, incidentally, are not catered for by my Association . . .) had responded to a Conservative appeal for funds and to label it a shabby, sordid piece of party politics.' "The relative extract from my speed), which followed a reference to my Association's fight against area nationalization schemes for buses and coaches, reads:—` So far, I think we can Claim that we have proved Lord Byron's lines to be true when he said, " For Freedom's battle once begun, Tho' baffled oft, is ever won," and now what we want are the fruits of victory. These fruits, in our case, are. not very ambitious. They amount to our being allowed to get on with the job of giving public setivice, free from the threat of being put out of business by Government or Government-owned monopoly.' • "I feel that any fair-minded person would consider this remark (apart from its irrelevance to your speech) to be reasonable and incapable of the distortion to which you subjected it."
BLACKPOOL POLICE THREAT
THE full rigour of the law will be imposed by Blackpool police unless coach drivers and operators are prepared to "display some degree of unselfishness." It is stated. that many
coach driers visiting the town during the illuminations period parked their vehicles in the streets instead of in the parks provided. During the illuminations period, 153,000 coaches and cars came into the town.
FORDSON TRACTOR PRICES
PRICES of the new Fordson tractor which is described on page 437 are as follows: Row-crop machine, with petrol or vaporizing oil engine and starter, £445; with lighting, hydraulic lift and linkage, pulley and power takeoff, £520 10s.; with oil engine and starter, £552, or, with lighting, hydraulic lift and linkage, and power take-off. £627 5s.
Spend More on London.. Roads .
BAD and dangerous surfaces on netay stretches of -road: caused a great many difficulties, including damage to vehicles, says the report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, published by the Stationery Office last week. The report, called London Trafiic, 1949-50, declares_ that the aggt'egate cost to the communityof repairs to vehicles as a..result of had road* must amount to .a 'very big sum.
Having regard to the heavy volume of traffic in London, the committee was of the opinion that more money should he spent ots repairs, Which would result in general economy.
The report deals with the accidents which occurred in High Road, Tottenham, where, after tram tracks had been removed, traffic islands were installed at a rate of 43 a mile, This led to a serious increase in accidents, the number being reduced only when 22 islands were removed.
SOUTHEND AND CARDIFF PLAN TO SAVE .INTERIM plans to save nearly £14,500 1 by internal reorganization were forwarded to the council recently by Cardiff Transport Department. Recommendations affect the engineering and commercial sections of the undertaking. and certain posts are listed as redundant. No proposals have been made with regard to the traffic section. .
By closing the Clare Road trolleybos depot and amalgamating its work with that of the Road] depot, £7,921 a year would be saved. Engineering staff could be reduced by 10 per cent. Reorganization of the commercial section might save over £2.000.
.Southend Transport Department has had a plan concerning the winter operation of trolleybuses approved by the town council. It is hoped to save £3,000 a year. Eastern and western circular routes will be linked to make a figure-8 service.