Special Express Service Granted for Christian Holidaymakers
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THE need for special facilities to enable holidaymakers with Christian principles to travel together from Manchester to the Christian Endeavour Association's holiday home at Rhos-on-Sea, Conway, and Penmaenmawr was debated before the North Western Traffic Commissioners on April 9, when the Penmaenmawr Motor Co., Ltd., applied for a new express service from Manchester on Saturdays only from Whitsun to September and at Christmas and Easter.
North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., and British Railways objected. Mr. J. Benis, for the applicant, said passengers had been carried from Manchester to the home by the Penmaenmawr Motor Co. for the past eight years organized as private parties.
This had been done quite legally by one of the officials of the association, but it was now desired that the bus company should do the booking.
No Risk to Teenagers It was not intended that the general public should be carried as the association felt that if only persons from good Christian homes were carried, parents could send teenagers alone without the risk attendant on normal travel.
The applicants had been associated with the home in providing excursions since 1918, and since 1950 an average of 570 passengers had been carried each sununer by private party.
Mr. C. Stacey, of Sale, transport organizer for the association, said that because of crowded rail and bus services to North Wales in 1950 it was decided to run a coach.
Questioned by Mr. D. L. Fytch, for North Western Road Car Co., he said that the applicants were paid £23 for a 41-seater coach, and return fares of 21s. were charged. Although there was a large profit on full coaches, there was an overall loss because of part-loaded duplicates.
Different View Likely The chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, commented that if the Traffic Commissioners had known of this method of charging, a different view would have been taken of the legality of their operations.
Mr. Fytch submitted that North Western had comparative facilities already with those proposed to Rhos and reasonable connectional facilities to Conway and Penmaenmawr. They had not refused any passengers to North Wales since 1954 and the home's traffic could easily be absorbed. If the application was granted the door would be left open to similar organizations.
Although the service had been running for eight to nine years, said Mr. G. H. P. Bearnes, for British Railways, the operation had been dubious. No other evidence of need had been A32 produced and even if the Traffic Commissioners did not entirely exclude them, any grant should be for a test period only.
In view of the history of the service, and as its private nature would be maintained, the application, except for Easter and Christmas would be granted for a 12 months period, said Mr. Williamson. Detailed figures would be required, and if it appeared that Rhos could be segregated without affecting it economically, that might have to be done.
STANFORD-LE-HOPE BY-PASS GRANT
AGRANT of £549,750 has been made by the Minister of Transport towards the cost of constructing the Stanford-LeHope by-pass. The grant represents nearly 75 per cent, of the estimated cost:
Stanford-Le-Hope is on the A1014 road to Thames Haven and Coryton which carries heavy oil-tanker and bus traffic to and from the oil refineries.
Two 24-ft. carriageways will be built for a distance of 1+ miles from a flyover junction with the main Southend road. This will pass over the railway and form the actual by-pass. The road will be widened from Rainbow Lane to continue the dual carriageways for a further three miles to Coryton.
Work is expected to start next year.
RUNCORN-WIDNES BRIDGE APPROACH TO COST .Lim.
1-.1 A NEW road leading to the RuncornWidnes bridge from the junction of the Liverpool, Manchester and St. Helen's roads at its northern approach, will cost I m.
It is expected that every day 7.500 vehicles will use the new approach, which will be 4-mile long. Much of it will be constructed on a viaduct. A flyover will be built where the road crosses Ditton Road (A562) and slip-roads will connect with the Liverpool-Manchester route and the St. Helen's road (A568).