Scottish Operator's Appeal Fails
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DEGRETTING the delay in giving IX decision, the Minister of Transport has dismissed three appeals lodged by McGill's Bus Service, Ltd., Barrhead, against decisions of the Scottish Licensing Authority. The appellant contested decisions refusing an application for a new stage service from Barrhead to Paisley, granting Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., a licence for a new stage service between Aurs Drive and Centre, Barrhead, and varying a stage licence held by Western S.M.T. for a service between Barrhead and Neilston.
The parties agreed to hear the cases together before Mr. J. 0. M. Hunter. The main.object of the appeals was to provide improved services, for which need was admitted, to and from a new housing scheme at Barrhead. Glasgow Transport Department, although not a respondent, was represented at the appeal hearing, and reference was made to the question of protection if the appeals succeeded.
Mr. J. Kirkland, for the appellant, held that McGill's application would tend to adjust existing services to meet the needs of the housing estate without putting additional vehicles on the main road. The grants to the Western S.M.T., on the other hand, increased the number of vehicles on the contested route, which was already adequately served and indeed congested.
Mr. R. Farrell, for Western S.M.T., held that it was the existing operator, and indeed the only operator, to the estate.
Mr. Hunter, recommending the dismissal of the appeals, said that the need for the services was established. Any proposal not involving additional vehicles on the main road to the estate was advantageous, but the two could not be reconciled. There was bound to be increased competition on the main road whichever application was granted. He felt that the respondent was the only and existing operator, and, therefore, that the respondent's proposals were more appropriate.