APPEAL AGAINST BAN ON STATION
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A N unusual case arose, last week, Pi.when Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., appealed against the refusal of Morecambe Corporation to permit the erection of a bus station. For the company, it was stated that the corporation had previously approved the application under the ordinary building by-laws, but had refused it under the town-planning regulations. At present, the company uses the municipal bus station, at a rental of £800 a year; previously, the rental was £600 a year. When notice of the increase in rental was given, the company decided to seek a site for its own station, and the premises would not damage the amenities of the district and would relieve congestion. For the Ribble concern, it was hinted that the corporation had taken into consideration extraneous matters in reaching its decision.
Local residents opposed the appeal, as did the corporation. A member of the town-planning and watch corn mittees stated that the question of the increased rental for the municipal bus station did not influence the decision.
SEASON TICKETS UNLICENSED FOR FIVE YEARS.
" /HAT explanation have You to
VII offer for the fact that a company of the size and intelligence of yours has never had its season tickets licensed for five years? "asked Mr. J. H. Stirk, chairman of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners,, of the representative of Enterprise and Silver Dawn Motors, Ltd., Scunthorpe, last Friday.
Mr. Paul Coombes. for the Enterprise company, explained that he was applying strictly to regularize the, issue of season tickets. Since the beginning of the company's operation under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, these should have been applied for year by year, but they had been overlooked, with the result that they had been issued without authority.
The Commissioners decided to grant the Enterprise company permission to issue season tickets as at present, with the exception of the sixand 12monthly ones, pending a conference of all North Lincolnshire operators,
B28 which they would call to fix a standard rate for such tickets.
Mr. Stifle pointed out that, apparently. the season-ticket rates fixed by the old United company in Lincolnshire in 1925 were being used by all the operators to-day.
HIGH COURT UPHOLDS ARBITRATION AWARD.
IN the Xing's Bench Division, last
week, Mr. Justice MacKinnon upheld a decision of an arbitrator in connection with the claim of Mr. G. H. Rich for compensation from London Transport. Mr. Rich was managing director and a permanent director of the Westminster Omnibus Co., Ltd., at a salary of about £750.
The business was taken .over by the Board, under the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, and Mr. Rich was offered a position as depot superintendent at £382 a year. Mr. Rich refused the post and the question was taken to arbitration, the arbitrator
finding that, if Mr. Rich had accepted the post, he would have been in a worse position than previously.. It was also decided that Mr. Rich was entitled to a lump sum in compensation, yielding an annuity of £130.
Mr. Justice MacKinnon said that difficult questions were raised and that, subject to miner alterations in the award, he did not materially differ from the arbitrator's view. Mr. Rich was granted leave to appeal.
PHILLIPSON SEEKS CHARLTON NIGHT SERVICE.
A T a sitting of the Northern Traffic Commissioners, Phillipson's Motor Coaches, Ltd., applied for a modification of its licence between the restricted period (November to December 15 and January 14 to March 31). It was proposed that the company should run a night service between Newcastle and London, and that Charlton's Blue Safety Coaches, Ltd., should operate the day service.
It was suggested that the night service should be shared in alternate years by the two companies. Mr. R. J. Hunter (secretary of the Northern Road Transport Owners Association) objected for the Charlton concern and said' he was amazed at the application.
The decision was reserved.
REMOVING FARES ANOMALIES
'Li XPRESSING the opinion that, if the application were 'granted, it would intensify competition between road and rail on the Newcastle-London route, the London and North Eastern Railway Co. opposed an application by five coach companies before the Northern Traffic Commissioners, for the renewal of licences for NewcastleLondon services, with a revision of fares. The Commissioners reserved their decision. .
Mr. E. S. Herbert, for United Automobile Services, Ltd., Majestic Saloon Coaches, Ltd., Orange Bros., Ltd.. Phillipson's Motor Coaches, Ltd., and Charlton's Blue Safety Coaches, Ltd., said the object of the revised fares was to abolish what was known as " double booking." Under this system a person travelling between two points could book for a certain mile.' age and then re-book for the remainder.
It was possible, by re-booking, to travel at a cheaper rate than the present fare for the through journey. The fares for the shorter distances were fixed, and it was proposed to make the through fare the summation of the shorter-distance rates. In some cases, this would mean increases and, in others, reductions of fares.
Mr. E. Gilbert Woodward, for the L.N.E.R., argued that the reductions would lead to fresh competition.
LONDON TRANSPORT WINS APPEAL.
THE Minister of Transport bas
allowed the appeal. of London Transport against the restriction to the use of single-deck vehicles on a section of the Aylesbury-Watford route, on account of Ruckiers and Boxinoor bridges. The Minister has given consideration to a letter addressed by the Board to the clerk of the Commissioners, in which it is stated that the Board was prepared to work the service in accordance with certain strict safety regulations.
The Minister has made an Order on the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner to delete the condition from the licence, but he should attach such conditions as he may think fit, based on the appellant's suggestions.