No Extra Transport for Air Display
Page 39
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THE fact that an organization such as the Society of British Aircraft Constructors urged that more transport facilities should be provided for Farnborough Air Display was not sufficient evidence for granting an application by Orange Luxury Coaches, Ltd., Stamford Hill, London, N.16, to provide extra services, said Mr. C. J. Macdonald, Metropolitan Deputy Traffic Commissioner, on Monday.
Although the S.B.A.C. said that they would like to double the present attendance at the air display, the question to be decided, said Mr.. Macdonald, was: " Is there a big load to be carried in addition to the existing load?" Mr. Macdonald was not convinced by the . evidence regarding the proposed service to Farnborough and refused this part of the application.
Mr. R. 'G. Mair, general manager of Orange Luxury Coaches, called witnesses who stressed that it would be more convenient if a coach service operated direct from South London to Farnborough.
For British Railways, who, with Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., objected, Mr. R. C. Oswald said that letters submitted by Mr. Mair were not supported by witnesses and should be treated as scraps of paper not worth anything as evidence. Two witnesses had agreed, said Mr. Oswald, that the existing services were efficient.
Mr. Mair submitted that although the existing services were efficieht, they were not sufficient.
Mr. Macdonald said that with more care the applicants could have produced a stronger case. The stage might have been reached where road congestion was worse than by rail from Farnborough.
It was impossible to decide this from the evidence presented, although a recent application had revealed an alarming picture of the delay experienced by the last coaches leaving the park.
SHOWING THE CANADIANS
TWO Bedford 10-12-cwt. vehicles
I adapted as dairy floats by Messrs. R. W. Osborne and Son, De-laden Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, are being sent to General Motors Canada, Ltd., for exhibition and demonstration in that country.
Apart from the left-hand drive, the vehicles are similar to more than 300 dairy models that Messrs. Osborne have produced during the past three years, and for which they have good orders for 1958, Several optional extras are fitted.
Particular attention has been paid to easing the task of the driver—considered • to be a strong selling point. The step to the cab is of generous width, a comfortable seat. is provided, and there is a wide window in the bulkhead. Heavy bumpers and winking-light indicators are fitted. Body framing is in hardwood and panelling is of steel, whilst flooring is in 1-in.-thick tongued-and-grooved planks. Sliding doors are expected to appeal to Canadian operators, who mainly use vehicles with independent cabs. •