Forty witnesses not needed
Page 30
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• After the objectors had seen the coachload of 40 witnesses brought to court by Smith Tours (Wigan) Ltd. in Manchester on Wednesday, and after discussion had taken place, agreement was reached regarding new tours sought by the applicant.
When the inquiry commenced after an hour's delay Mr. J. A. Backhouse, for Smith, assured the North Western Traffic Commissioners that the position had been fully looked at and a compromise reached. In addition to certain minor variations, Smith had wished to introduce sevenand eight-day tours from Wigan to Bognor Regis, Skegness and Llandudno, a four-day one to Dunoon and a seven-day tour to the Trossachs and Edinburgh.
It had now been decided to withdraw both Bognor Regis tours, the two to Llandudno and the eight-day one to Skegness. The seven-day tour to the last destination would be limited to one vehicle and there would be no departure after May 18 or before September 12. In addition there would be picking-up on this tour at Liverpool, Widnes, Runcorn, Chester and North Wales. This was to protect the express service operators, said Mr. Backhouse. The two Scottish tours were to be included to add variety to Smith's programme. Apart from the withdrawal mentioned, the company had also agreed not to pursue its objections to express service applications by Yelloway Motor Services Ltd. to run to Cheltenham, and by Ribble Motor Services Ltd. to operate to Bristol, said Smith's solicitor.
For the 13 objectors, Mr. W. D. Walker said that usually his clients would have been aggrieved at the applicant's action in having published tour details in its brochure before licence authorization by the Commissioners but they realized that there were special circumstances on this occasion. The Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr. C. R. Hodgson,, said that was indeed a practice which he had always deplored. The application was granted as amended.