Minibus Operation Revealed By Chance
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NAANY methods of transport employed by the general public are quite illegal," LYI declared Mr. C. R. Hodgson, chairman of the East Midlands Traffic Commissioners when granting an express licence at Leicester.
During the hearing it was learnt that a minibus driven by Ajit Singh, the applicant's son and an employee of the foundry, had been operating this service since July. Questioned by Mr. Hodgson, Ajit Singh said that he had not collected any fares. Said the chairman: "I am very annoyed that this fact should only come out by chance."
For the foundry firm it was explained that only specially selected men would travel on the bus as they were required for special duties in the foundry before the rest of the workers could begin.
Summing-up, Mr. Hodgson said that although the Commissioners did not look favourably upon the taking away of traffic from the railways and other established operators, he had to grant the application as the unofficial service could continue and the passengers still insist that they were not paying fares.
Minibus Application Turned Down
THE owner of a Trojan minibus ran into trouble at Leicester when he applied to the East Midlands Traffic Commissioners for a licence to take Leicester theatre parties to Coventry.
The applicant, Mr. H. C. Davis, admitted during cross-examination that he had bought tickets to sell to parties he had taken on private hire. Later, when asked how he proposed to get his passengers home as his bus would not be back in Leicester until after the local services had stopped running, Mr. Davis said he would take them home for a small extra charge, alleging that other excursion licence holders adopted this practice.
He later asked to withdraw this statement when questioned by Mr. A. H. Headley, who appeared for three of the objectors.
Dismissing the application, Mr. Hodgssm said that the evidence presented had lcn virtually worthless" but advised Mr. Davis that he could make a new application if he got proper evidence.
ORDERS DOUBLED
I N his statement to shareholders, Mr. H. Shelvoke, chairman of Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., Letchworth. said: "The number of orders on our books today is almost exactly twice the number at this date last year and they still continue to reach us at an unprecedented rate.
"The need for further floor space, therefore, has become more and more urgent and it is hoped the erection of the new additional works will commence very soon."
Leyland's African Sales Increase
INCREASED sales during September are I reported by Leyland Motors, Ltd., for its African companies, covering South and Central Africa. Mr. D. G. Stokes, director and general sales manager, said that sales have been pushed ahead despite increased competition from a number of
German and British companies. He added that five years ago his company's products were accounting for pearly 60 per cent, of the total registrations of heavy-duty vehicles, and that since then Leyland group sales had increased by over 36 per cent.
Extensive spares coverage throughout the Union and the Central Federation was partly responsible for the upsurge in sales, total investments in these territories now approaching am, During 1960 considerable money had been expended in the erection of completely new chassisassembly plants, and in enlarging workshop and repair plants.
FOR A.E.C. SERVICING
I—I A NEW depot for Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., for the servicing of A.E.C. vehicles will be opened in Dundee on December 7. The depot occupies a 6,000 sq. ft. site. Sir William Black, chairman of A.E.C., Ltd., is to open the depot. Initially, it will be for servicing A.E.C. vehicles and distributing spares. but possible expansion may be in bodybuilding and vehicle painting.
Bedford's New Bus Station
THE new Bedford bus station of United Counties Omnibus Co., Lt was opened yesterday by the Mayor Bedford, Alderman A. H. Randall. Bt at a cost of more than £60,000, the n, station has been erected in the cent redevelopment area of Bedford.
The office block is built on two floo the upper containing office accommoc tion, staff mess room, canteen. etc., a the front of this floor overhangs t queueing platform and gives cover waiting passengers. The lower fib comprises inquiry hall, left-luggage offic waiting room, cafeteria, inspector's of& duty-schedules room, drying room, eye store and boiler house.
The new station has a separate entran and exit for vehicles and provides accor modation for 12 departure bays. Passe gers are set down imediately inside tl entrance to the station and vehicles thc circle and reverse on to their bays.
ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE OPEN BUS DEPOT EXTENSION
THE opening of a new 126,000 exten sion to Ashton-under-Lyne's Massie: Road Transport Depot means that thi undertaking's 70-vehicle fleet can no all be accommodated under cover.
Unlike some other undertakings, bette situated geographically, open-air parkirn of buses has proved unsatisfactory, mainl■ because of the site's exposure to cob north-easterly winds. In addition to thr necessity of drawing and refilling radia tors every night in cold weather, conden sation proved an insoluble problem dur ing the winter months.
The extension, a steel-framed, concreti and brick structure with a double-spar roof, covered by asbestos sheeting, has r floor space of approximately 135 ft. b3 80 ft.. with accommodation for 2( vehicles. The existing bus-washini machine has also been incorporated in thc