PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 23
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
RESTRICTING PRIVATE BUS ENTERPRISE.
A Welsh Owner's Appeal to the Ministry of Transport for Power to Institute a New Service.
WHEN Messrs. T. Davies and Sons, motor coach proprietors, of Semi,henydd (Glam.), recently applied to the various authorities concerned for permission to institute a -service from Senglimpid to Newport (Mon.), via Bedwas and Caerphilly, the suggestion was weltowed by the Newport corporation, which readily gave its sanction, but other authorities rejected the suggestion of plying for hire in their respective areas. Moreover, it was not looked open with favour by the St. Mellon's Rural District Council, through whose area the proposed route would also have to pass.
As they were not successful in securing the necessary permission, Messrs. Davies and Sons appealed to the Minister of Transport, and a public inquiry into the refusal of .certain of the authorities to grant the licences was held by Mr. H. Fisher, a representative of the Ministry, at Caerphilly. The appellants were repicsented by couinSel, and all the ,councils concerned were legally represented, while Mr. S. T. Richards, of Cardiff, apPeared for the Motor Omnibus Proprietors-Association.
For the appellants, it was alleged that the application had not been fairly and
judiciously considered by the respective councils and, furthermore, that, as some of them were interested in the operation of buses, they were riot likely to form an impartial judgment. It was contended that the Newport Corporation, which was not interested from the point of view of the operation of its own services, had notonly granted the permission sought by the applicants, but had welcomed the service. It was stated that there was no through service from Senglienydd to Newport at the present time, and that the applicant's desire was to provide an efficient, regular daily service with special facilities for workmen at early hours, although not necessarily at reduced fares.
Attention was drawn to the fact that the Caerphilly, Bedwas and Machin councils possessed independent bus services, and also ran a joint service between the two centres.
Further details were given of the existing services which operate over sections of the route, and mentionwas made, of the fact that the service from Newport to Senghenydd was very irregular. The applicants stated that they were willing to procure three new 35 h.p. 28-seater buses costing £800 to i900 each for the service.
On behalf of the councils it was stated that the application had received due consideration, irrespective of its effects upon the councils' own services, and it was pointed out that the roads of the St. Mellon's Rural District Council were unsuitable for use by vehicles of two proPrietors operating in opposition.
Further evidence and details were placed before the Ministry of Transport's -representative, whose decision on the matter will be announced in due course.