Anglian half fares report goes to DoE
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• It will be several weeks yet before a decision is made on whether half fares can be re-established for school children on buses run by Eastern Counties Omnibus company in East Anglia (CM August 13). Half fares were abolished on the ground that the services were running at a loss.
The abolition was allowed by the Traffic Commissioners earlier this year but last month Norwich Corporation appealed against the decision. Their appeal was heard by an inspector of the Department of the Environment and a decision rests ultimately with the Secretary of State.
A spokesman for the DoE said that the inspector's report had been received (in the first week of September) and was now being considered by the Secretary of State. it was expected it would be a few weeks yet before a decision was known.
When the bus company put its case to the Traffic Commissioners in February it said that in 1970 it lost £235,000 on carrying children, against a profit of E119,000 with adult passengers.
The Commissioners restricted half-price fares to children travelling between 9.15 am and 3.15 pm on weekdays.
At the public inquiry when Norwich Corporation's appeal was heard, it was stated on their behalf that an excessive and unreasonable increase in fares had resulted for children.
While awaiting the Secretary of State's decision, Eastern Counties announced on September 3 that modifications were being made in the new scheduled services recently approved by the Traffic Commissioners so that school children might use the new ring road service round the city with their scholars' tickets to get to school. At the moment they were not allowed to use this service with scholars' tickets. Checks were being made on bus loads to see whether the existing service could handle the bulk of children travelling to the Eaton, Hewett and Blyth comprehensive schools.
The assistant traffic manager for Eastern Counties, Mr P. Lutman, said: "If school children are allowed to use the ring road service it will make their journey to school much easier as many live along the northern part of the ring road route."