Lincoln Bus Position Now "Lamentable"
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A SPECIAL meeting of Lincoln City I-1 Council, to discuss the serious position of their transport undertaking, was suggested last week by Cllr. W. J. Bell. He told members: "If we treat this as it must be treated—as a business concern— things cannot go on as they are."
Gni% Bell said in nine months the undertaking had lost 1,344,000 passengers, perhaps because those people could not afford to travel by bus. Many former passengers were now using bicycles or walking, whilst the number of motorcycles and autocycles licensed in the past three years was high.
He called for a meeting of the whole council to make quick and progressive decisions on methods of recovering lost traffic. In reply, Clir. F. W. G. Todd. chairman of the transport committee. admitted: "No matter where you go, privately and municipally, former passengers are just not travelling."
However, he believed the department was giving a reasonable distance of travel for the fare charged. The trouble was that people would no longer wait 15 minutes for a bus when they could walk to their destination. The biggest problem was the irregularity of services, and various obstructions along the routes. He promised to give Cllr. Bell's suggestions "very serious consideration."
INQUIRY INTO RURAL BUS SERVICES WANTED
A NATIONAL inquiry into passenger ra. transport facilities in the East Midlands has been suggested by the East Midland Transport Users' Consultative Committee. This follows a report on rural transport in the area by Prof. Robert Peers, of Nottingham.
He said the.decline in rural population and agricultural workers, which was detrimental to the nation, was being caused by the withdrawal of passenger transport facilities in isolated country areas. A particular example was Lincolnshire, one of the country's most important agricultural regions.
The British Transport Commission had already promised to discuss his views.
Prof. Peers pointed out that links were needed between main and subsidiary routes. His report was adopted unanimously. t
DOUGLAS BUS SERVICES CUT: MEN REDUNDANT
AFTER hearing that the municipal undertaking was expected to lose £10,500 in the present financial year, Douglas Town Council decided last week to cut services immediately. Cllr. W. A. Moore said' a decline of 8,040-9,000 passengers was partly responsible for the deficiency.
It was agreed to retain all bus crews until March 31, although 15 men would become redundant through the reduced mileage scheme. An order for two double-deck buses, due to be delivered to the corporation next year. was cancelled.