'End NBC' idea at rural seminar
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ABOLITION of the National Bus Company and Trani, Commissioners was suggested during general discussio] sessions at the Rural Transport and County Planning semina held at Nottingham University last week.
Earlier, Andrew Blowers, a member of the Environmental Services Committee, Bedford shire County Council, said that fares had now become a "crunch" factor in attracting or losing passengers.
They had increased by over 180 per cent in the past three years; much more than the rate of inflation, and more even than the cost of motoring.
The suggestion that the NBC should be abolished implied that the municipal and independent operators, together with the County Councils could operate at lower fares.
Abandon
Defending the NBC, its finance director Guy Neely, said that there was room for both the public and private sectors — each had a part to play.
However, it should not be thought the NBC relinquished routes lightly. Independents who had taken over former NBC services had themselves sought to abandon them shortly afterwards.
Abolishing the Traffic Commissioners and vesting their powers in County Councils, allowing them fully to exercise their powers under the Road Traffic Act 1972 might result in local interests being dealt with by local people.
However, it was felt that Traffic Commissioners formed a first line of defence for services which operators were tempted to discard.