News of Municipal Activities
Page 40
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
M.T.T.A. Blackpool Conference, The headquarters of the Municipal Tr-runways and Transport Association Conference will be the Imperial Hydro Hotel, Blackpool. The conference will open on June 20 at 8.30 p.m. with an informal reception by the president, Mr. Charles Furness, M.I.E.E. The programme for the subsequent days is as follows :— June 21: 9.30 a.m., Council Meeting. 10 a.m., Civic Welcome by the Mayor and reception by the President to representatives of other organizations and overseas visitors, Presidential Address, Presentation of cheques and medals in the essay competition, General meeting. 2.30 p.m., Paper, " The Growth of Passenger Traffic in Great Britain and Some Features of Its Regulation," by Sir Cyril W. Hurcomb, K.B.E., C.B., Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport. 7.15 p.n., Annual Dinner and Dance.
B22
June 22 : 9.30 a.m., Council Meeting. 10 a.m., Meeting of Managers' Section 30.30 a.m., Paper, "The Three Forms of Road Passenger Transport—Tramways, Trolley-buses, Motorbuses ; a Comparison and a Contrast," by Mr. C. R. 'Vattern, General Manager, Bradford Corporation Tramways. 12.45 p.m., Luncheon at the Tower Restaurant at the invitation of the Mayor and Corporation. 2.30 p.m., Private Session.
June 23 : Alternative Excursions: (1) to Douglas, Isle of Man, tickets 10s.; (2) coach drive to Windermere, tickets 3s. 6d.
Progress with a Lincolnshire By-pass.
A Lincolnshire £25,000 by-pass proposal in connection with the BostonSkegness road, has now taken definite form. The plan provides for the construction of a by-pass road, 60 ft. wide, from Sea Lane Corner, at Wainfleet, on the Boston Road, to the main Skegness road. Lincoln's Financial Position.
A loss of 1618, as compared with a net profit of £1,721 in 1931-32, was incurred on Lincoln Corporation's transport system during the past year. The gross profit amounted to £5,942, against £8,311 a year earlier.
A revenue of £46,120, representing a drop of £1,921 as compared with the previous year's figure, is recorded, whilst the working expenses increased by 1448 to £40,178, on account of the higher price of petrol and increased expenditure on licences. Reduced to a per-bus-mile basis, the working cost is 11.14d.
During the year, the buses covered 865,651 miles, carrying 6,218,206 passengers, and although the mileage increased by 36,089, there were 209,555 fewer passengers. The accumulated deficit of 11,705 added to the loss of ;£618 makes the deficit carried forward 12,323.
Colchester's Bus Accounts Show a Deficit.
The municipal passenger-transport services in Colchester are maintained solely by buses and, in the year ended March 31, 1933, the operation of the vehicles showed a deficit of 12,386. In this period total revenue amounted to ±32,709, and working expenses to £29,250; although the gross profit was £3,454), loan charges, amounting to 15,902, have to be met.
During the past year the vehicles covered an aggregate mileage of 717,875, and the total number of passenger journeys was 5,033,405, the comparable returns for the previous year being 697,191 miles and 4,939,611 passengers.
County Council Acquires Toll Bridge.
Isle of Wight County Council has arranged terms for the acquisition of Yar Bridge undertaking. These terms provide, inter alia, that the council is to pay the company £9,500 for the undertaking, together with the company's costs.
In addition to the undertaking, the company is to transfer to the council its liquid assets, which are valued at over £2,000. The purchase is to be completed on July 1, and application is being made to the Ministry of Transport for permission to continue the collection of tolls for a period of years.
Another Convert to Motors.
The haulage sub-committee of Welshpool Highways Committee has had under consideration the borough surveyor's report on certain motor-haulage tests. Being satisfied that the collection of refuse, haulage on country roads, etc., could be more economically carried out by motor lorry than by the present system, the committee recommended that tenders should be invited for the carrying out of the work by motor for a year.
Attracted by Tractors.
After tenders for haulage were considered by Formby Council, it was resolved that the council should continue to do its own work until it is decided whether it will change over to tractors and trailers. Further consideration of the question of the adoption of such vehicles is to be deferred until the next meeting of the health and highways committee.
£130,000 Road-improvement Scheme.
Swansea Highways Committee has accepted the offer of a 75 per cent, grant from the Ministry of Transport for the immediate improvement and widening of the London-Fishguard trunk road (A48) from Morriston Cross to Swansea Canal. There has been expended a sum of £61,547 on this road, and the total cost of the improvements will be £131,380.
Glamorgan County Council and Cardiff City Council have also received grants for works on sections of the road.
• Bootle Supports Taxation Plea.
Bootle Corporation has decided to support a resolution passed by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce with reference to the taxation of heavy motor vehicles in port areas.
The Chamber, whilst being of opinion that railway and road transport should bc placed on an equitable competitive basis, viewed with great apprehension the proposals to increase taxation on all mechanical vehicles irrespective of the area of their operation. This increased taxation would press with undue hardship on the Port of Liverpool, as its physical characteristics make it mainly dependent for its internal transport facilities on heavy mechanical vehicles.
The Chamber urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer to exempt heavy motors used exclusively witflin port areas from the increased taxation.
Reduced Fee for Battery Charging.
The electricity committee of Stoke-onTrent Corporation has agreed to make a reduced charge of id. per unit for power for the purpose of charging the batteries of electric vehicles.
More Motors in Northampton.
During the five months ended April 30 last, Northampton Corporation issued 9,163 Road Fund licences, bringing in a revenue of £49,948, representing an increase of 450 in the number of licences and £1,667 in revenue, as compared with the results of the corresponding period of the previous year.
Wolverhampton's Bus Operating Results.
In the year ended March 31, 1933, Wolverlaampton Corporation made a gross profit of £78,750 on the operation of its trolley-buses and £8,465 on its motorbuses, giving a total of 187,215, but after debiting interest on capital, repayment of loans, income tax, and certain other items, there is a net profit of £8,815, which is transferred to the reserve fund.
During the year 29,127,599 passengers were carried on the trolleybuses and 7,666,380 on the motorbuses. The aggregate mileage covered by the trolley-buses was 3,383,277 and by the motorbuses 1,477,789. The gross capital expenditure on the trolley-bus system has amounted to £548,368, and on the motorbus system to £94,176.
In the past year the total revenue on the trolley-buses was £212,899, and on the motorbuses £77,093, the working etipenges being £134,149 and .£68,160.
Although at the end of March last the corporation was operating 95 trolleybuses and 51 buses, the average number of vehicles in use per day during the year under review was 75 trolley-buses and 36 buses. Of its total fleet of 140 vehicles, 88 are six-wheelers, 63 being trolley-buses.