Cardiff fares up 50pc but 'complacency alleged'
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CARDIFF Corporation Transport has been given permission to increase fares by 50 per cent from Sunday, but in doing so the chairman of the South Wales Traffic Commissioners, Mr Ronald R. Jackson, criticized the transport manager, Mr David R. Smith, for complacency.
Mr Jackson told the undertaking that its application was not in common with other bus undertakings and that most Traffic Commissioners had to deal with applications in the region of 30 per cent.
"These increases too have been estimated to give a surplus to the undertakings but even with the massive rise of 50 per cent Cardiff Corporation will still have a deficit of more than £250,000. I am still of the opinion, as I was in October at the last application for fares increases, that there is still an air of complacency born out of monopoly, but with the figures produced today I have no alternative but to grant this large increase in fares."
He said the complacency had also been borne out by the transport manager, leaving the court immediately after giving his evidence. "Either he was extremely confident or couldn't care less, but we consider it extremely discourteous."
It was stated that Mr Smith was attending a seminar at Reading, but the chairman still maintained that for a general manager a fares application was most important and this date was set well over a month ago.