A BUS LICENSING PROBLEM.
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Opposition Raised to the Application of a London Bus Proprietor for Licences to Ply for Hire in Gloucestershire and South Wales Districts.
'APPLICATION has been made by Mr. 'Wallace McCurd, .a London bus proprietor, to a number of East South Wales and Gloucestershire local authorities for sanction to ply for hire with buses from London to Gloucestershire, the Forest of Dean and South Wales, in addition, it is understood, to establishing purely local services in the. Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire areas.
The Coleford (Forest of Dean) council recently agreed to sanction such services and this has resulted in the council being asked by the directors of the Gloucester Red and White Service Co., Ltd., and of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd not to issue the licences on the ground that the understanding on whie.h they founded their local services would be violated if the proposals of the London promoter were approved.
At a meeting of the Coleford council, Mr. T. R. Jenkins, J.P., Aberearn (Mon.), and Mr. John Watts, of Lydney, the directors of Gloucester Red and White Service Co., Ltd., attended to explain the reason for their appeal. Mr. Watts said that, contrary to what was understood by the Coleford authority when deciding to grant licences to Mr. McCurd, the other local authorities had not granted licences. Mr. Jenkins
Pointed out thatrwhereas Caerleon and Coleford District Councils had assented to the proposal, the scheme was nullified by the refusal of the Newport (Mon.) and Usk Councils to grant licences, which meant that vehicles could not ply for hire into Caerleon.
The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., wrote urging a reversal of the decision to grant licences. It was said that a third party would not be catering for any recognised public need. The company's Forest of Dean service was founded in 1924 at the request of the Coleford Traders' Association, and a resolution bad then been passed by the council to the effect that, so long as the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., gave efficient service in the area, competitors would not be encouraged.
The chairman of the council pointed out that these representations were being made late in the day, for licences had already been granted. The council, however, would further consider the question and communicate with the interested parties.