Yorkshire Excursion Fight Reopens
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EXCURSIONS of Heaps Tours, Ltd., 1-4 Leeds, had been suffering falls in receipts and passengers for several years, and the company wished to arrest this trend, tht Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners were told at Leeds on Tuesday. On this basis, the company sought additional tours, the amendment of certain excursions to allow morning, afternoon and evening operation and an increase of vehicle allowances during August Bank Holiday week.
There were 10 objectors. Strong opposition, particularly by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., was registered.
Mr. N. Beaumont, manager for the executors of S. Ledgard, said that the grant of local excursions with morning. afternoon or evening operation must abstract from parallel stage service.
The two and three-day tours sought were opposed by Mr. J. T. Rogers, Rogers Motor Coaches, who said that he had operated 14 tours of this type in 1959. There had previously been agreement with Heaps not to encroach in this limited field.
Mr. J. M. Barr, for Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., described the application for part-day operations as a reduction of fares without evidence of demand, which would amount to legal undercutting. Questioned by Mr. C. D. Chapman, for Heaps, Mr. Barr agreed that his company had no monopoly or prescriptive rights to any destination and many points on both companies' licenses were common.
Abstraction from West Yorkshire's stage service, between Leeds and Bridlington, at the peak period could well lead to reduction or withdrawal, said Mr. J. Mellor. Excursion operators must not be allowed to bolster their receipts at the expense of all the year round operators. The hearing continues.