Trolleybus Replacement : Operators Warned
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UNLESS Leigh Corporation, South Lancashire Transport Co. and Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., settled their differences over the replacement of trolleybuses by motorbuses, some enterprising operator would no doubt see an opportunity of quickly providing the required service and apply for a licence. That contingency was not far-fetched, and the Commissioners would not predict their decision on such an application, said Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, last week.
The Commissioners were giving their decision at the close of the sixday hearing of South Lancashire Transport's application to substitute motorbuses for trolleybuses (The Commercial Motor, March 22 and March 29).
Applications for " consent " by Leigh and Bolton Corporations were granted. Bolton's application was virtually unopposed. In the Commissioners' opinion it was in the public interest to grant also Leigh's application, irrespective of any interpretation of the 1928 agreement between the parties, about which so much had been said during the hearing. Mr. Williamson commented.
Leigh held a road service licence for a joint service between Bolton and Warrington, via Leigh, the route of which between Bolton and Leigh was substantially similar to that which was the subject of Leigh's application for "consent."
Leigh also participated in other services over part of this route outside the borough. The question whether Leigh Corporation had power to operate over the whole or any part of the route outside the borough seemed to be wrapped in mystery.
Operated for 20 Years
If the corporation had no such power and the application for " consent " were refused, not only would they be unable to participate in the proposed joint service, but would also be unable to continue existing services. Leigh had participated for 20 years in at least one of these services and had held a road service licence since 1930.
Decision on the applications for road service licences was reserved to enable the parties to negotiate further. The Commissioners had reached certain views on the 1928 agreement, said Mr. Williamson, but did not propose to express them while there was any possibility of negotiations bearing fruit.
If these broke down, the Commissioners would view with alarm any arrangement which might be proposed or become necessary as a result of legal proceedings, whereby passengers had to change buses at either the Leigh or Bolton boundaries, or whereby a system of protection had to be introduced.
The public were entitled, on the abandonment of the trolleybuses, to a through motorbus service between Leigh and Bolton, with point-to-point picking up and setting down along the whole of the route at ordinary fares