Objection to Take-over Fails
Page 48
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THEY would require a great deal .I. more evidence from Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., to justify refusing the licence, Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, said at the hearing at Liverpool, last week, of an application by R. R. Low (Luxury Coaches), Ltd., Hoylake, to take over an excursion and tour service from Hoylake and the R.A.F. Camp, West Kirby, purchased from T. Lawrenson, Ltd., Bootle. It had been established well over 20 years and was still being satisfactorily operated.
British Railways withdrew their objection.
Mr. R. R. Low said he had been Lawrenson's manager at Hoylake since 1947. The licence had always been fully operated, and in 19% they ran 235 day excursions. He agreed that when Lawrensoils applied for additional vehicles in 1954, evidence was given that they ran 338 excursions in 1953. The drop this year was due to the weather.
Mr. T. Lawrenson said he was reducing his Commitments because of advancing age. Referring to Crosville suggestions of a big drop in receipts in 1953, he pointed out that before the Victoria Motors decision, he operated private parties extensively to London and other places and strongly contested the legal position. After the test case, he accepted that these operations were wrong and they ceased.
A Crosville official, Mr. C. R. Buckley, said they had a vehicle allowance of 12 for excursions and tours from West Kirby and Hoylake. This year, the maximum number of vehicles used was seven, Traffic had decreased in recent years. Crosville could deal with all the existing traffic. There was no need for a new licence.
Mr. Williamson commented that such evidence could be a ground for reducing Crosville's own vehicle allowance.
Crosville's feeder service from the West Kirby camp to Lime Street station, which carried only 385 passengers in September, 1952, had 1,793 in September this year, said Mr. H. Jones. Passengers on the Lawrenson service were declining, and the traffic was going by rail.
COMPANIES WOUND UP
ON the companies' own petitions, Mr. Justice Roxburgh made orders in the Chancery Division on Monday for the compulsory winding-up of F. W. Williams (Manchester), Ltd., as well as F. W. Williams (Liverpool), Ltd., F. W. Williams (Crops), Ltd., F. W. Williams (Derby), Ltd., and F. W. Williams (Transport), Ltd.