Tours of Belgium Strongly Opposed
Page 20
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I N addition to an M.P. and five local authorities, 30 members of the public supported a Middlesbrough coach operator's application for two Continental tour licences at Middlesbrough last week. Mr. R. L. Hardwick, Eston, Middlesbrough, wanted to run tours from various Teesside towns to Ostend and Blankenberge, Belgium.
The application was opposed by British Railways and six bus companies— Northern General Transport Co., Ltd,; East Kent Road Car Co. Ltd.; Bee-Line Roadways (Tees-side), Ltd.; Braithwaite Tours, Ltd.; United Automobile Services, Ltd.; and Wilkinson's Motor Services.
Mr. Hardwick said that in 1952, one year after starting his business, he operated a seven-day excursion for a private party from Tees-side to Ostend via Dover. Although his coach was not shipped across the Channel he arranged all hotel and transport facilities in Belgium and acted as courier during the tour. Since then, 2,052 passengers had been taken in private parties to the two Belgian towns with similar arrangements.
Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, for Mr. Hardwick, said that for some time he had been inundated with requests from people wishing to go on tours such as those organized for private parties.
The cost of the proposed tours, including a one-day excursion in Belgium under taken by a local operator, would be £17 17s. to Ostend and £18 18s. to Blankenberge.
Mr. T. M. Baker, Clerk of Eston Urban District Council, also representing Billingham U.D.C., said that in essentially working-class areas the public could not afford expensive holidays. The district was sufficiently well populated to justify extra facilities.
A letter of support was produced from Mr. A. M. F. Palmer, M.P. for Cleveland.
For the objectors, Mr. J. L. R. Croft pointed out that Mr. Hardwick was not really intending to operate Continental tours but merely an express service between Tees-side and Dover. This would conflict with British Railways and Northern General's express service. As far as hotel and transport facilities in Belgium were concerned, Mr. Hardwick would simply be working as a travel agency.
Mr. Croft admitted that Northern General were the only coach company to operate direct from Tees-side to Dover, but he explained that other concerns ran express services as far as London. From here passengers could travel to any Channel port with East Kent.
With many witnesses still to give evidence, the case was adjourned until January 20.