PVOA Opposes ABTA Scheme A NEW policy recently announced by the
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Association of British Travel Agents under the title of "Operation Stabilizer" VMS contrary to public interest, stated the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association Ltd. last week. The policy was to restrict travel agents to offering only overseas holidays run by members of the ABTA. At the latter association's conference in Jersey this week a new by-law to this effect was passed, with the amendment that members of the PVOA who were not ABTA members would be eligible provided they were suitably insured.
The PVOA stated that during many years of operation there was no known instance of any failure by a licensed tour operator to honour his commitments. The members of the Licensed Continental Tour Section of the PVOA had no intention of disrupting their present organization and administration to support the alternative of a "closed shop ", stated this association.
The proposal, however well intended, was in the view of PVOA contrary to public interest. It brought no advantage to a vast section of the travelling public who over the years had supported and had confidence in the facilities for overseas holidays offered by the licensed tour operator as distinct from those offered by certain tour organizers, such as the agencies who made up "package lours".
GOODBYE 727
"THE 727 Green Line express service between Tring and London (Victoria), introduced on November 4 last year, will be withdrawn as from Sunday next, October 31, because of lack of support announces London Transport. The service was described in The Commercial Motor of November 6 and November 20, last year, when serious traffic congestion was reported along the route. The Ministry of Transport and the GLC have failed to take steps to remedy much of this congestion, and for six months operation along the MI southwards was banned owing to this section of road being closed for reconstruction.
In an attempt to beat some of this congestion, London Transport is splitting Green Line routes 701, 702 and 714, in the central area on Mondays to Fridays, as an experiment, The coaches will be allowed a "recovery" time of up to 30 minutes at the in-town terminals so that they can at least start their return journeys on time. F.K.M.
More Oldham Buses Off the Road
By Derek Moses
T" blitz" on Oldham Corporation buses (The Commercial Motor, last week) is continuing, and further buses were ordered off the road by Ministry vehicle examiners on Tuesday. Oldham purchased a large number of its vehicles in the immediate post-war years, which was followed by a "lull " for several years, and then another large intake. Consequently the Corporation is faced with a heavy vehicle recertification programme from time to time. Efforts are now being made to spread the intake of new buses more evenly.
Meanwhile the efforts of zealous vehicle examiners combined with increasingly late deliveries of new vehicles (a growing problem facing the bus operating industry as a whole) are causing the undertaking a headache. Oldham Corporation has maintained schedules by hiring buses from other undertakings.