Tour Figures Down, Say Big Compantes
Page 47
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'-‘,„.HOULD a comparatively new excur
sion operator, based in a growing uburb of a large city, be allowed to spend at the expense of old-established icence holders operating from the city entre? This question was put by the 'Nectars at Glasgow, last week, when 4r. John Haldane, Cathcart, asked the ;coltish Traffic Commissioners to add 12 ours to his licence.
Evidence from seven witnesses was upported by letters from Mr. John lenderson. M.P. for Cathcart, eight local Irganizations and 19 individuals. There vere objections by W. Alexander and tons. Ltd.; David Lawson, Ltd.; Scottish Nnnibuses, Ltd.; Western S.M.T. Co.. .td.; David MacBrayne. Ltd.; and British tailways Mr. W. Law, for the applicant, said he as granted an excursion licence from ;athcart in 1951 so that people would not ave to go into Glasgow for their tours. 'assengers carried had steadily increased o 7.216 in 1957, despite complaints that here was insufficient variety in one full;:ty. seven half-day and six evening tours.
Mr. Haldane now wanted to add seven ne-day, three half-day and two evening )1ITS to his schedule. There were 33.158 electors in Cathcart Ward--the third biggest in Glasgow—and the population was expected to increase by up to 20.000. The new tours had all been routed away from Glasgow to avoid aggravating congestion in the city centre.
Mr. R. Farrell, for the associated bus companies, said it was Mr. Haldane's fifth application for additional excursions since 1951, and six of those now being applied for had already been refused. Obviously he was hoping gradually to build up by making repeated applications.
For Alexander's, it was submitted that they had been running excursions from the city centre since 1922, always carrying passengers from Cathcart. If more passengers were taken from their catchment area it -would be serious for the company and against the public interest. Touring figures had started to decline.
Mr. W. Quin, chairman, said a case had been made out for day tours to Katie. crankic and Dunoon, half-day dips to Trossachs and Perth, and evening runs to Aberfoyle and Troon. Half the population of Glasgow who used to live within three miles of the city were now six miles out, and a demand for local tours from the perimeter was inevitable.