A NOTHER chapter in the opening up of the north west
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by the motorways, first started by express carriage operators, was begun on Thursday of last week, when 52 applications by 22 Lancashire excursion-and-tour operators were heard by the North Western Traffic Commissioners in Manchester.
• The Commissioners, who reserved their decisions after a day-long sitting, heard 14 operators based in Blackpool and district, six based in and around Burnley, one based at Atherton (north west of Manchester) and one based at Stockport apply for day-exdursion licences to operate to such distant points as London, London Airport and Wembley (for special matches). Dumfries. Llanberis Pass, Barmouth, Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, and a tour of the Spalding tulip fields were among other destinations requested.
In the main, nine journeys in a year were applied for to London destinations, six to he on Sundays or Bank Holidays, the remaining three to be on weekdays.
Mr. J. Backhouse, appearing for 17 applicants, made the point that the longdistance destinations applied for had been brought within reach by the motorways, such as M6 and Ml, and by the increase in the permitted speed limit. On the London excursion a schedule such as a 6 a.m, departure from the north west, arriving back at around 5.30 a.m. the following morning, would give customers from 2 to 10 p.m. in the capital.
Objections to the applications from Blackpool were withdrawn; from Burnley, the Corporation objected to the name of the new Burnley Omnibus Station being omitted from some excursion origins; and British Railways (Liverpool) objected to two of the starting points and one of the fares for London excursions starting just north of Manchester.