Authorization of New Express Services Upheld by Minister
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
nEC1SIONS have now been given by
the Minister of Transport on four recent appeals. In two cases, new express services authorized by the Licensing Authorities will operate despite objectors' representations, and in a third the refusal of a Licensing Authority to grant an express-service licence has been upheld. The fourth ease concerns a new stage-carriage service.
The appellants in the first of the express-service cases were the Railway Executive, Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., representing Royal Blue Express Services. They appealed against the decision of the South Eastern Licensing Authority granting Smith's Luxury Coaches (Reading), Ltd., an express-service licence from Reading to Weymouth. The appeal was dismissed with costs.
In his report, Mr. W. Tudor Davies, inspector of the Ministry of Transport, held that the need for a new service could be justified in this developing area with a growing population. The inconvenience of the existing services, entailing • a journey by stage-carriage vekicle from Bournemouth to Weymouth and the question of fares also favoured the new service.
A restricted express service was concerned in the appeal lodged by the Railway Executive against the decision of the Western Licensing Authority granting Blakes (Continental) Tours, Ltd., licences for services from Plymouth (Royal Naval Barracks) to Liverpool and Sheffield. Two vehicles only were authorized and only naval personnel based on Plymouth could be carried. The services were asked for by the naval authorities. The appeal was dismissed with costs.
The appeal of Premier Travel, Ltd., Cambridge, against the refusal of the . East Midland Licensing Authority to grant a licence for a NottinghamClacton express service was also dismissed with costs. The inspector of the Ministry of Transport held that the existing facilities did not justify the grant sought.
In the appeal of Venture Transport (Newcastle), Ltd., against the decision of the Northern Licensing Authority, granting Northern General TranSport Co., Ltd., a licence for a stage-carriage service from Gateshead to Winlaton, the plea that no need for the service had been proved was set aside. For N.G.T., it was pointed out that Venture said there was no need for the service but claimed that the new'service would abstract traffic from • its services. The appeal was dismissed with costs.