Cheaper fares — more passengers?
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• Ribble Motor Services came under fire, and under comparison with Cumberland Motor Services of Whitehaven, at the quarterly meeting of Westmorland county council in Kendal recently, Mrs Sonia Walshaw, of Staveley, speaking on a three-point plan of the Westmorland Liberal Association to improve public transport in the county, claimed that there was widespread agreement that Ribble was pricing its services out of the market because of the high fares.
She wondered if the county council could influence a reduction of fares to encourage more passengers, and continued: "This is one of the reasons why buses are so empty in comparison with those run by Cumberland Motor Services."
She instanced a CMS 7-1--mile journey into Keswick from Seatoller costing 12p and well used and also convenient; also a Ribble journey from Ambleside to Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale, another part of the Lake District, where the 74 miles cost 19p and the service was less frequent.
The council chairman, Mr P. G. Thomson, said that, in fairness to Ribble, it was part of the National Bus Company with a directive to work profitably.
Dr S. M. Musgrave referred to the "Mountain Goat" minibus service recently begun in the Windermere-Kirkstone pass route (CM last week) and commented: "I
am amazed that it has managed to dodge our dog-in-the-manger legislation on public and private transport."
The Westmorland Liberals proposed use of private cars to meet small irregular rural needs, reform of licensing to allow private firms and individuals to operate transport, and subsidization of high bus fares.
The general purposes committee chairman, Mr F. Tatters, said they did not feel the use of private cars was in the council's jurisdiction and if fares were reduced they would have to increase the existing subsidies.