Six-year Wai t for Garage
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE new Aintree garage of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., was opened last week by Mr. F. Williamson, 0.B.E., North-western Licensing Authority. Mr. R. P. Beddow, Ribble chairman, and other company executives, together with representatives of undertakings operating jointly with Ribble, all attended the ceremony.
Construction of the garage was.reconsidered by the board as long ago as 1945, said Mr. Beddow. Formerly, building could be started within three months of a decision being taken. In this case, the first steps were made in October, 1945, and permission to build was obtained in February, 1947. Further applications were necessary and the appropriate permit was received in the September.
Application was made in August, 1947, to the Ministry of Works for a building licence, which was received in eight months, whilst a steel permit was obtained by October, 1948, for an allocation in the following January.
Thus, 39 months elapsed in reaching the position of being able to build, but, by that time, prices had gone up, so that it was necessary to go back in order to procure the Ministry's permission for the increased cost.
Furthermore, the Town and Country Planning Act had come into force, so that a development charge of £4,500 had to be paid on the land bought in 1945 for the specific purpose of building the garage.
Aintree was intended to relieve the Liverpool and Bootle depots and 52 vehicles were being transferred there at once. Ultimately, nearly 100 would be accommodated.
Mr. Williamson referred to the fact that all road service undertakings were now having a difficult time, because of the fall in traffic and the big increase in the costs of operation, especially during the past 12-18 months. The decline in traffic had, however, commenced before fares generally were increased, so that the higher fares were not the cause of falling traffic. Mr. Williamson felt that people would rather pay more than have their transport services cut, but he knew of no other industry in the country whose charges were the subject of such close scrutiny.
The Aintree garage, which commenced work immediately after the opening, covers two-thirds of a total site area of 9,700 sq. yds., and it has accommodation for 60 double-deckers in herringbone formation or 93 if parked in line, The most modem equipment is used throughout, and a special study has been made in order to ensure ideal working conditions.