No authority by Commissioners to prevent withdrawals
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• The Northern area Traffic Commissioners have renewed road licences held by United Automobile Services Ltd, Darlington, but have refused to impose a condition, recommended by seven Durham local authorities, that the firm should continue to maintain unprofitable services without assistance from local councils.
The chairman of the Commissioners, Mr J. T. Hanlon, said last week that they had no authority to impose such a condition, and even if they had, they would not be justified in using it.
It was reported that the company had threatened to withdraw uneconomic services unless they were subsidized by district councils. Mr J. Stephenson, representing the seven local councils concerned, said six routes were in dispute and that even if these were continued to be maintained by the firm, United would still make a profit of 026,000.
Mr J. L. R. Croft, for the bus company, said that the Commissioners had no legal right to lay down these conditions as this would interfere with the bus company's inherent right to surrender any licences it held.