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Reserved Decision on Flights' Bid
Page 51
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THE theme of objectors' evidence when a
public enquiry on a large excursion and tours application by Flights Tours Ltd. was resumed at Birmingham last week was the abstraction of traffic against a background of steadily declining traffic—in some cases five per cent a year.
Flights sought to amalgamate five Birminghambased groups of tours on to one licence incorporating some 320 destinations, 67 of them new ones. Included in the application were 15 inclusive tours. Vehicle allowance asked for was 17 per day with 20 on special occasions such as Bank Holiday periods.
After a series of hearings, which started last October, and lasted a total of seven days, the West Midland Traffic Commissioners reserved their decision. There were 10 objectors.
Mr. W. A. Mann, director of Mann's Superlux Coaches Ltd., objected to extended facilities on Flights' picking-up point at the junction of Heath Street and Winson Street, Winson Green, and Icknield Square which, he claimed, would abstract passengers from his points at Piddock Street and Blue Gates, 1.2 and 1.25 miles away respectively.
Giving evidence for Gliderways Coaches Ltd., Mr. Ian McLaughlin made a similar objection. His firm's Dawson Street point, 1.25 miles away, from which 34 per cent of its traffic was carried, would be affected, he claimed. He reported a fall in Gliderways excursions and tours traffic from 22,229 in 1964 to 19,490 in 1965.
A passionate objection came from Mr. J. N. Ashmore, of J. Ashmore and Sons Ltd., who has a five-vehicle business with a licence authorizing 28 destinations, which started 150 yards from Flights' picking-up point at Heath Street. He pointed out that he was the sole objector to the original application Flights made when they took over the Higgins licence with this picking-up point.
He went on: "If this application is granted, I might as well close my doors. I have not the resources to withstand additional competition from Flights."