Ex-driver Seeks Evening Tours
Page 40
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AFTER evidence that a newcomer had carried over 2,000 people on "private parties" from the Hope Valley into Sheffield for evening entertainment in 22 months, it was suggested to the North Western Traffic Commissioners, at Manchester on Monday, that the existing operators had been keeping within the law while the applicant was " organizing " people.
Mr. A. Tibenham (Hope Valley Coaches), Bradwell, applied for an excursion and tours licence from Castleton to Sheffield, with picking-up points at Hope,. Bamford and Bradwell.
Sheffield United Tours, Ltd., North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., British Railways, Sheffield Joint Omnibus Committee, W. E. Pashley, and Lady Bower Coaches objected.
Mr. J. Colin Eagle, for the applicant, said residents of the Hope Valley who wanted an evening's entertainment in Sheffield were unable to get public transport back. The last train from Sheffield was at 9.24 p.m., and on weekdays the last bus ran at 9.15 p.m.
Organized private parties were the only method available, and since March, 1955. 2.317 passengers had c? travelled in the evenings on Mr. Tibenham's coach to entertainments in Sheffield.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. Booth, for Mr. Pashley, Mr. Tibenham agreed he had taken traffic from other contractcarriage operators. He said he operated a modern luxury coach, compared with which theirs were obsolete.
Mr. Booth questioned the validity of the figures produced. Mr. Pashley was operating a valuable rural stage service, connecting with trains and through buses, which bare!), paid its way. Any abstractions would be fatal.
S.U.T. submitted that, as existing operators, with an excursion and tours licence from Bamford, they should have priority if there was need for additional facilities.
Mr. J. Granville Dixon, for the railways, said Mr. Pashley was the existing operator with the railways. The applicant, an ex-driver for Lady Bower Coaches, was the "cuckoo in the nest."
The chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, reserved decision for consultation with Cher Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners,
and until the Yorkshire part of the • application had been heard.