Birmingham Co-op Bid —No Decision
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THE application by the Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd. for re-admission into the excursions and tours section of the industry ended after a total of 31 days of sittings, and the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, sitting in Birmingham last week, reserved their decision.
Their chairman, Mr. J. Else, said they wished to give further consideration to the mass of documentary evidence which had been put in by the 16 objectors.
The Society had applied to operate 131 excursions and tours from its garage in the Nechells district of Birmingham. At previous hearings (The Commercial Motor, January 31 and March 6) the Commissioners had been told that the Society was forced to cease operations in 1959 because redevelopment in its catchment area had caused considerable de-population. However, much of the rebuilding had now been completed.
In his final submission, Mr. Denis Skelding, • representing eight of the objectors, pointed out that a number of the objecting firms had also been adversely affected by redevelopment. However, unlike the Co-op, they had not been able to afford to go out of business. Instead they had advertised extensively and obtained licences for new destinations and had managed to continue.
It was only fair, he submitted, that the Commissioners should afford some measure of protection to those who had -had the courage to keep going. During the Co-op's dormant period other operators had provided an excellent service for the population in the district the Co-op wished to start serving again. If they were given permission to do so, traffic would be abstracted.
In his submission, Mr. Brian Bush, for the Society, relied a great deal on the evidence of a local city councillor who had told of the need for the service his clients plan to offer and of the extensive local rebuilding programme.
Mr. Harold Bourne, a director of Direct Coaches (Birmingham) Ltd., which operates excursions and tours to 110 destinations on two licences from a base close to the area in question, claimed in evidence that since 1960 he had been suffering from the effects of clearance schemes to a far greater degree than the Co-op, " But I have still operated regularly and have started longer distance day tours to keep my clientele happy."
Scottish Fares Granted
PPL1CATIONS by Scottish Omni4"t buses and Highland Omnibuses for increased fares (The Commercial Motor, May 8) have been granted by the Scottish Traffic Commissioners and come into effect next Monday; the only exception is that the 34d. single fare remains unchanged. The applications included 4d. or ld. increases on single fares between 34d. and Is. 11d.
B20