No confidence vote
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• Delegates of about 40 North-East local authorities at a conference at Durham City, last week, passed a vote of no confidence" in the Northern Area Traffic Commissioners. The conference was called to discuss the latest fare increases granted to United Automobile Services Ltd., by the Traffic Commissioner.
Cllr. J. Laffey (Hebburn) said local authorities were getting nowhere in opposing applications for higher fares; Dlr. J. May (Seaton Valley) complained that the history of local authorities and the Traffic Commissioners was a sorry one.
The conference also suggested that they should be given 28 days, instead of the existing 14 days, in which to lodge protests against higher fares. Mr. J. Proctor (deputy treasurer to Durham County Council) said that only on one occasion had they obtained any success in opposing higher fares. Since the Traffic Commissioner decided some years ago that a 12.6 per cent profit margin for bus companies was not unreasonable, local authorities had been put in a straitjacket.
The local authorities have already urged the Ministry of Transport to review the new fares already brought into operation by United.
• The Emlin Plant licensing application in Edinburgh, reported in CM on November 21 page 28, was heard by the Scottish deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. H. R. Aylmer, and not by Mr. L. A. Wells as stated. Mr. Wells no longer holds this position.