'Chauffeur coaches' allowed for Harrogate
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• Despite strong opposition from local taxi drivers, Harrogate is to get an experimental minibus shopping service using the Dial-aRide system.
The West Yorkshire Road Car Co Ltd, which intends to commence operations on September 25, was given the go-ahead at a public sitting in Leeds last week when the chairman of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, Maj Gen Sir John Potter, granted the company's application for a new stagecarriage licence. An unsuccessful objection to the application had been lodged by the Harrogate Taxi Association.
Representing West Yorkshire, Mr Peter Fingret told the Commissioners that throughout the experimental period, between September and March, minibuses, known as "chauffeur coaches", would operate in five areas of Harrogate: Kingsley, St Hilda's, Knox, Leadhall and Oakdale.
These chauffeur coaches would be operated on a designated route between each area and the town centre and would stop at any point where a passenger wished to board. If the driver was given a minimum of 30 minutes warning before departure it would be possible for him to make a detour, pick up a passenger and then return to the original route.
Obvious extension Mr Fingret went on to say that there would be a 10p single and 15p return for adults, with a 5p single and 10p return for children. If successful the service could eventually be operated on nine or 10 routes.
Mr Harry Rowen, secretary of the Harrogate Taxi Association, said in opposition to the application that the new service could endanger the livelihoods of Harrogate's 120 taxi drivers.
On deciding to give permission for the new service, which he described as "a modern and obvious extension to existing services," Sir John suggested that West Yorkshire should operate three 15-seater vehicles in place of the proposed two. He explained that the Commissioners did not wish to see the experimental service get off "to a bad start" because of lack of vehicles due to breakdowns or over-crowding. Referring to the objection by the taximen, Sir John added that the new service was aimed at people, such as old aged pensioners, who could not normally afford to use taxis and, therefore, the local taxi operators had no need to worry.