West Hartlepool can use rates to aid bus service
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TO what extent can or should Traffic Commissioners force a corporation to make up deficits in its passenger transport undertaking out of the rate funds? "We are not sure ..." the Northern Traffic Commissioners declared last week when they announced their decision on a West Hartlepool Corporation application for a fares increase.
The Commissioners granted the requested increase of Id. all round, with 2d. on second stage 7d. fares. And they decided that the rate fund may, if necessary, bear a proportion at least of the burden of the losses in West Hartle pool.
These losses, the Corporation stated when making its application on September 20 last year, amounted to £23,000 and were likely to be more than £40,000 in 1967/68.
But, it said then, because of the prices and incomes policy it would not press for the fares variations to take effect until January 1967.
The Commissioners stated last week:—
"We are satisfied that the corporation has effected every possible economy and that the scheme in hand of extending the use of one-man buses will achieve even further cuts in expenditure on wages, but this has been taken into account in the estimates.
"The final question before us is not whether there is an increase in expenditure which ought to be met by the public. The real question is whether the actual deficit faced by the corporation should be paid by the ratepayers or the farepaying passengers. Since there are very many passengers who are not ratepayers, it appears to us more equitable to share the burden as far as possible over the users of the service."
On the question of funds from the rates, the Commissioners referred to Sunderland Corporation's "substantial contributions" out of its rates funds towards "a cheap bus service".
And they said that the value of a bus station as an amenity to a town was taken into account when fixing "reasonable charges" to bus operators for its use, the balance being attributed to the general rate fund.
The Commissioners ruled that, because of the prices and incomes criteria, the new Hartlepool fares should not be introduced until May 1. And added:—
"In approving these variations we share the reluctance shown by the Corporation in submitting their proposals for a fares increase but neither they nor we have any control over increased costs which can only be met out of the public pocket one way or the other."
Reliances for Devon and Yelloway
DEVON General Omnibus and Touring Co. Ltd. has ordered 13 AEC Reliance single-deck buses. Three will be 32 ft. 8 in. models with Marshall 41-seat bodies and the remainder 36 ft. buses with Willowbrook bodies, three seating 49 and seven seating 53.
Yelloway Motor Services Ltd. has ordered six 36 ft. Reliance coaches with Plaxton 45-seat (reclining) bodies for its motorway services from the Rochdale area to London and Torquay.
Doncaster Wants RTCs: Doncaster Corporation transport committee recommends the purchase of 10 Leyland Royal Tiger Cub RTC1.1 18-ft. wheelbase single-deckers with 45-seat dual-entrance bodies by Chas. H. Roe Ltd.