PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BUS COMPETITION.
The Ministry of Transport Considers the Views of a Private Company and a Municipal Authority Concerning the Issue of Bus Licences.
ALONG-CONTINUED dispute between Messrs. Barton Bros.. of Nottingham and Beeston, who were the pioneers of bus traffic in that area and the West Bridgford District Council, which exercises administrative control over the chief suburban district iminediately contiguous to the city, culminated iu an inquiry extending over several 'ays being held recently at West Bridgford, by direction of the Ministry of Transport. The inquiry concerned an appeal entered jointly by the firm and by Mr. Jas. Atkins. of Cromwell Road, Beeston, against the refusal of the council, which has its own bus system, to grant bus licences to the appellants.
It was stated by counsel for Messrs. Barton Bros. that they have been running buses for over 20 years, having now 00 such vehicles in regular service covering approximately 200 miles of tenitory, They had obtained licences from twelve different authorities, the Bridgford Council being alone in refusing their full request, granting only ten licences for their buses. It was complained that the council adopted the attitude that the monopoly of bus services in Bridgford should be in its hands, and in support of the application it was pointed out that Messrs. Barton's buses provided a through service without the necessity being imposed upon Bridgford residents for changing from Nottingham Corporation trains at Trent Bridge into the council's buses.
A considerable mass of evidence was Called in support of, as well as against, the application.
In the course of the proceedings it was foreshadowed that the Nottingham Corporation and the West Bridgford Council might coalesce in the near future to run an inter-bus serviee between the city and the suburb. 'rho result of the inquiry will.be made known in due course.