A:1Z PASSENGER Burton package transfer bid fails
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PLANS to provide a coach transfer facility to air and sea ports, for people travelling on overseas package holidays from Burtonupdn-Trent, by Stevenson's of Uttoxeter Ltd, were frustrated by opposition from National Travel and Viking Motors (Burton) Ltd, before the West Midland Traffic Commissioners in Birmingham last week.
Stevenson's had sought to vary an existing licence, originating from Uttoxeter, which authorised operation to 22 air and sea ports for tours up to three days duration, by adding two picking-up points in Burton; altering the duration of the tours to up to 15 days; and by adding Coventry and Cheltenham airports to the list of destinations.
The chairman, Mr A. A. Crabtree, commented that in a recent application by the company to expand its excursions and tours licence, the Commissioners had made it clear they felt that Burton was adequately catered for by existing licensed operators. They had felt that Stevenson's ought not to be lice.nsed from Burton, and they would require a great deal of convincing that this application was not another attempt to get "the thin end of the wedge" into Burton.
For the company, Mr H. Tranter said an entirely different traffic was involved in the present application. Stevenson's were substantial stage carriage operators in the Burton area, and also provided express and private hire facili ties. They were entitled to share in any traffic not already being catered for Mr George Stevenson, managing director, said the present licence was not really a practical propos:tion. A demand for the proposed facilities was shown by the fact that people going on 15-day holidays were be'ng carried on a private party basis. Stevenson's had no intention of arranging holidays themselves or of operating vehicles cn the Continent.
Mr David Stevenson, a partner in the associated firm, Stevenson's Travel Bureau, sad the proposed operation was not viable without the Burton picking-up points. Package tour passengers at present lisd to make ther own way to the ports of departure and he believed there would be a tremendous response if he could advertise package holidays with a coach transfer facility.
The application was supported by Marina Holidays. Tri-Star Hol;clays and Tom Hill Le'sure Holidays.
Giving evidence for the objectors, Mr K. West, manager of Frame's Burton office, said
in his experience there was no demand for a coach transfer faci!ity; people preferred to make their own way to the ports of departure.
Mr M. Grant, licensing and express planning manager of National Travel (Midlands) Ltd, said National and a number of NBC subsidiaries had licensed facilities available that could meet any requirement from travel agents for a coach transfer facility from Burton. In addition, National offered Continental tours of varying duraticn from the town. •
Refusing the application after hearing evidence from Viking Motors, Mr Crabtree said that although the Commissioners accepted that the present application was completely different from the previous one, they still concluded that the transport needs of the public of Burton were well provided for. The evidence of need, to justify any part of the application, was virtually nonexistent. SITED alongside the Runcorn busway, and having a special access road to link it, a new Int depot for Crosville Motor Services Ltd was opened last week by Mr C. Rigby, deputy chairman of Runcorn Development Coroporation.
The new garage, which stands on a five-acre site, will serve the 51 o-m-o singledeck buses which the company operates from Runcorn. It has six workshop pits plus a light maintenance pit and there is a service lane which provides interior cleaning, cooling water and anti-freeze metering, dispensing of lubricating oil and fuel, and the washing of vehicles. The "flow-line" system is designed to enable vehicles to be cleaned and refuelled in a matter of minutes.
On show at the opening was the Leyland National battery electric trailer bus which it is intended to use on the Runcorn busway as soon as DoE certification or dispensation has been granted.