BRIEF ITEMS OF NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
Page 59
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Auckland Grievance Regarding Licensing.
As a result of dissatisfaction that has arisen on question's of bus service timetables and interavailability of tickets, a conference of local authorities in the Auckland district has been held at Bishop Auckland, and it has been decided to ask the Traffic Commissioners for the Northern Area to agree to the appointment of a joint committee, having as its object the finding of remedies for any grievance that arises from the Road Traffic Act, 1930, or its administration.
This is a new development and one which suggests that the municipalities feel that some definite move must be made to represent to the Commissioners the needs of the public in matters of road travel.
Ongar Protest to Commissioners.
At a meeting of Ongar Rural District Council a few days ago it was decided tosend a strong protest to the Traffic Commissioners concerning their refusal to renew a licence applied for by Messrs. Bouts Brothers, who run the Tiger coach service between London and Ongar. The ridiculousness of the claim that Ongar was well served by the railway was a point strongly raised at the meeting. The fact that the public and municipalities find cause for vigorous protest against decisions of Traffic Commissioners involves a curious position when one considers that the Commissioners are appointed under the Act to see that the needs of the travelling public are properly served. In the past week news of similar protests has been received from many parts of the country.
Accrington Succeeds.
At the recent public inquiry held by the North Western Traffic Commissioners,Accrington ,Corporation succeeded in obtaining consent to run on five routes outside the municipal boundary, these being as follow :--Accrington to Burnley ; Accrington toBlackburn via Rishton ; Oswaldtwistle to Blackburn via Church, Clayton-le-Moors and Rishton; Accrington to Clayton-leMoors ; Accrington to Oswaldtwistle.
Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., supported the first three applications, and the only objections remaining were from the railway company and Blackburn Corporation, which were against consent being given to enable Accrington Corporation to operate services on different routes from those at present in use. Operation may not be commenced until applications have been made for road-service licences.
Slough Ratepayers' Protest.
At the time of going to press, arrangements were being completed for a mass protest meeting to be held in Slough on Sunday last, September 13th. This was organized by the Slough Rate
payers Association, and the object is to protest against restrictions placed on local bus and motor-coach services, as the result of administration of the Road Traffic • Act, 1930. Largely, of course, it is the buteome of the refusal of licences to the Premier Line, Ltd. This has caused a lot of indignation locally. For example, a protest meeting was held at Cippenham a few days ago regarding the Windsor-Maidenhead route, for which licences have been refused. At this meeting strong resentment was expressed and a deputation was formed to wait upon the Ministry of Transport. , It was also decided to Present a resolution to the Prime Minister, the Traffic Commissioners -local members of Parliament and neighbouring
palities.
A Birmingham Protest.
According to the latest news received from the Birmingham area, residents in the Voalville and Ibstock districts strongly resent the action of the Traffic Commissioners for the West Midlands Area in stopping an early morning motorbus service which ran .from.Coal: vine to Hinckley. This service was extremel; useful for workpeople, as well as for school children, and a petition for its reinstatement is being prepared.
A New Coach Owners Federation.
At the foot of page 99 in our issue for last week we announced the registration of the London Coach Owners Federation, Ltd. " This has been registered as a trading concern, the six members of which are all operators of long-distance coach services from the Metropolitan Traffic Area.
The object of the federation is to protect the interests of the members, particularly in the matter of investigation of licence applications; objections, and requests for 'leen-sing conditions which -are made from time to time to the Traffic • Commissioners, and which are likely to affect the companies' interests, also to assist the members mutually in pressing their own claims
at the Commissioners' sittings. ,
It will be seen that the new body is in no way an association "opento all and sundry ; in fact, it may be simply described as a mutual-protection concern.
Eastbourne Corporation to Try Again.
The Eastbourne Town Clerk has reported to the motorbus' committee the refusal of the Southern Traffic Commissioners to grant the corporation a road service licence for the EastbourneBeaehy Head route, mentioning that Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., has been granted such a licence. The question of appealing to the Minister of Ti'aniport was considered, the committee finally deciding to recommend the Collffeii not to appeal, but, instead, to reserve the right to make a similar application next year.
Municipal Protest Against_ Licence Condition.
At a meeting of Darlington Rural District Council held a few days ago a protest was raised against a licence condition imposed by the Northern Area -Traffic Commissioners, the result of which is to prevent a motorbus service from carrying workmen from Darlington to Aycliffe in the evenings. The same service is used by the men in the opposite direction in the mornings and the restriction involves extra expense to them, as well as considerable inconvenience and congestion on the other buses. in the evening rush hours. As a result of the meeting, the council has unanimously agreed to ask for the withdrawal of the restriction.
Maidstone-Protection Refused.
Just too late for inclusion in our previous issue, news came to hand that the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners had granted an application made by Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., to run a -coach service between Maidstone and Eccles, by way. of Gillingham, Aylesford and Borstal. A request made by Maidstone Corporation that a condition should be attached to the licence securing a protective fare for the corporation services was refused by the Commissioners.
Sittingbourne-London Appeal.
The refusal of the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners to licence a local service, as well as a service between London and Sittingbourne, in accordance with applications made by Mr. E. J. Mears, is resulting in an appeal by the applicant to the Minister of. Transport. The local service, for which a licence has now been refused, has been running for more than two years. Judging by information received from the locality, public opinion is strongly against the Commissioners' decision.
Chester Public Inqulry.
An important feature of this week's sitting at Chester of the North-Western Area Traffic Commissioners will be' the public inquiry into the applications Made by Chester Corporation to operate public-service vehicles-oncertain routes extending beyond the city boundaries.• Objections to the applications have been lodged by Cheshire County Council, Chester Rural District Council, Grosvenor Motor Services and Hook Urban District Council.
Bus Station on Poole-Bournemouth Road.
The motorbus sub-committee of Poole Council, at a recent meeting, recommended that the plan submitted for the proposed bus station at County Gates be adopted, and the council approved. The proposed purchase of land for the purpose of the bus station is a matter that will be considered next month.