The old, old story .
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ik.N1 APPLICATION by R. S. Marchant, l
of Cheltenham, to operate express services between Cheltenham, Gloucester, Clacton and Bognor Regis was described in Bristol this week as "the old story, which the Commissioners had heard over and over again, of the operator who was providing a regular service throughout the whole of the year and somebody else wanting to come along and run a service at the peak period".
This was said by Mr. T. D. Corpe, appearing for the objectors, Associated Motorways and Premier Travel Ltd_ The Commissioners refused the application.
Mr. Corpe claimed that the application was "wasteful competition". In a case of this nature there should be very strong evidence of public need. The evidence of need, he suggested, was fragmentary as far as public convenience or demand was concerned.
Earlier, Mr. D. Keane, for Marchant, said the application was for a service from Gloucester and Cheltenham to Butlin's Holiday Camp at Clacton and Bognor Regis from the last Saturday in June until the first Saturday in September.
It was proposed to run direct services to the holiday camp with a return fare of £2. The service was designed for holidaymakers in the Cheltenham. and Gloucester areas to have cheaper, quicker and more adequate travel facilities.
Mr. Roy March ant had been a coach operator for 18 years and had 23 coaches. A similar application from him in 1958 had been turned down.
Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon, said if a licence were granted for a coach operator to work on the same route as an existing service, all services would be gradually and steadily eroded with considerable damage to the public transport system. No real evidence of need has been established.