Eastern Area S•cheme Soon: Will Municipalities be Excluded?
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ARLY developments in the British -L-Transport Coriunissidn's proposal for, an area scheme for road passenger transport In East Anglia are e4ieeted. Lord Hurcomb, chairman of the B.T.C., told a deputation of Members of Parliament that there would be no undue delay in present. ing a draft scheme.
The deplitation consisted of Mr. Edward Evans, C.B.E. (Socialist, Lowestoft), Sqdn. Ldr, E. Kinghorn (SoCialiat,'Yarthouth) and Mr. William T. Aitken (Contervative, Bury Si. Edrriimas); fn composition it was, therefore, non-political. •
It: is understood that on representations by West Suffolk CountyCouncil and Bury St. Edmunds Town Council, which are opposed to the 'nationalization of Passenger transport, Mr. Aitken took Mr:. Evans and Sqdn. Ldr. Kinghorn to see the Minister of Transport, Mr. A. Barnes. to present a case against the proposed scheme for East Anglia.
Mr. Barnes is reported to have shown sympathy for the views expressed, but referred the deputation to Lord liurcomb. Mr. Evans led the second deputation, which was assured by. Lord Hurcomb that all interests Would have an opportunity of expressing their opinions. He also said-that the draft scheme would not be unduly delayed. •
Both Yarmouth and Lowestoft have municipal transport systems, and are opposed to the nationalization of their
undertakings. It seems likely, therefore, that party politics were set aside by the deputation and that the Members of Parliament resisted any plan for an area scheme embracing all road passenger services.
Sqdn. Ldr. Kinghorn told "The Commercial Motor," this week, that the discussions, which were amicable, covered company as well as municipal bus undertakings. He presented the case for Yarmouth, which carries heavy holiday traffic on its buses in the summer. He had, he added, a feeling that municipalities might be left to run their own systems.
A spokesman of the B.T.C. said that the discussions were purely informal and no statement was to be made.