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Who Benefits from New Bridge ?

15th June 1956, Page 38
15th June 1956
Page 38
Page 38, 15th June 1956 — Who Benefits from New Bridge ?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

WHEN the construction of a bridge reduces the length of a bus journey. should the travelling public or the bus company reap the benefit ?

This question was discussed before the South Wales Licensing Authority, at Swansea, last week when the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., asked for increases amounting to slightly more than 2d. •a day for weekly ticketholders, 2d. a day for monthly ticketholders, and lid. a day on three-month1y tickets on the route over the.£2m. Neath Bridge.

The increases would bring the fares level with those charged on the route to Briton Ferry and Margam via Neath, before the construction of the bridge..

Mr. 1, Watkins, deputy clerk of Swansea, who opposed the application, said the travelling public should benefit from the new bridge, which had been paid for by the general exchequer.

"The company is attempting to apply the same fares in the II miles across the bridge from Swansea to Margam as exist on the 17-mile route along the old road via Neath. Would this principle also apply to the proposed Severn Bridge?" he asked.

Mr. C. R. Hodgson, chairman: "There would be quite a lot of talk."

It is absurd,” Mr. Watkins went on. "By the construction of the Neath river bridge, mileage has been reduced by 6.1. and the Severn Bridge would reduce mileage by 40 to 50. The principle is exactly the same in the two cases."

Decision was reserved.

"SUPPORT COMPANY WITH PRIVATE-H1RE WORK"

GRANTING permission to Percival Bros. (Coaches), Ltd.. Richmond, Yorks, to increase fares on their stage services, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, chairman of the Northern Licensing Authority, said he hoped the public would realize how much local country services relied on private-hire bookings. He hoped they would rally round the company with that type of business in order that the ordinary services could continue to he run. Too often they placed that type of work elsewhere.

Mr. Hanlon described as " modest " the company's proposal to raise by amounts ranging from d. to 2d. the charges on their Barnard Castle, Keld, Arkengarthdale and Darlington services. If it were not for receipts from privatehire work, the company would operate at a serious loss, he said.

For the company, Mr. R. G. Hunter said the cost of operating the stage services was Is. 50. a mile, excluding depreciation. On a turnover of £37,000 in 1954, a profit of only £12 was made. The position for 1955 would prove to be worse because of rising costs, which included an extra £1,400 in wages.

A service from Tunstall to Bedale had been 'withdrawn because of lack of support. and others might have to be curtailed, declared another spokesman.


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