"B.T.C. Policy Threatens Bus Concerns"
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IF the British Transport Commission continued to run services by road
which were uneconomic by rail, they could bankrupt and purchase small bus concerns, and the result would be nationalization without compensation. This was pointed out by Mr. H. Backhouse, on behalf of four independent operators, when they put a joint application to the North Western Traffic Commissioners last week.
The operators were F. Sykes and Sons, Ltd., T. Shaw, Naylor's Motor Services and Chadwell Motor Tours. They were seeking a new Saturday express service between Warrington and fdandudno from Whitsuntide until September with unlimited duplication. There were objections by Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., and British Railways.
Mr. Backhouse recalled that when Crosville applied in February for new period returns from Warrington to Colwyn Bay and Llandudno, the Commissioners indicated that they thought there was need for these facilities. However, the independent operators had run day trips to the North Wales resorts since the inception of the Road Traffic Act and were just as established as Crosville, who already had a monopoly of period returns to Rhyl. If the big company were allowed to " shoulder in" on Colwyn Bay and Llandudno it would make independent operation uneconomic.
Commissioners' Preference He said the four concerns were at present licensed for period returns to Colwyn Bay and Llandudno on excursions for the last two weeks in July and the month of August. They had applied for an express service because the Commissioners had indicated a preference for this type of operation.
There was an alternative application to add to their excursion licences period returns to Rhyl. Colwyn I3ay and Llandudno from Whitsuntide to the last Saturday in August, with linking when there were no economic loads.
Questioned by Mr. J. Edward Jones,
for the objectors, Mr. J. W. Na.ylor agreed that the applications were purely protective and would not have been made if Crosville's application' had been refused. If Crosville wanted to run to Llandudno they should share Rhyl, he suggested.
Mr. S. Sykes said he owned eight coaches, only two of which were licensed, and because of restrictions he had to hire to Crosville at Is. 9d. a mile.
Mr. Edward Jones submitted that Crosville were asking for a properly coordinated service which, unlike that of the excursion operators, would cater for people en route. Crosville's stage services already catered for people all along the North Wales coast, and their .through service would be a great convenience to the public.
The independents did not really want an express service with all its obligations, he claimed. They were seeking,to compete at peak times in a way which would seriously endanger Crosville's economy.
Mr. Backhouse replied that the applicants' case rested on the Commissioners' decision that there was need for improving Saturday period returns from Warrington to Llandudno. They could not see this need, and a similar application by Crosville two years ago was refused.
Crosville were a nationally owned concern running at a comfortable profit, he declared. They were undercutting British Railways and opposing four family businesses which had been operating to North Wales for more than 20 years.
Decision was reserved.