Protection from Express Services Sought by Excursion Operators
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LIrtESPITE objections from excursion operators, five big northern cornpanics were last week granted a new picking-up point at Jrlam (Lanes) on their express services from Manchester to Blackpool, Keswick, Morecambe, Kendal, Glasgow and Edinburgh. They were Lancashire United Transport, Ltd.; North Western Road Car Co., Ltd.; Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.; Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd.; and Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd.
For the applicants, Mr. F. D. Walker called 18 witnesses who supported the idea of a picking-up point at the Britannia Inn, !Hams o' th' Height. Mr. Walker pointed out that they would be saved a long walk and the stop would be convenient for everyone, particularly old people and mothers with young children.
Mr. H. Backhouse, objecting for J. W. Fieldsend, Ltd., and Martins Coaches, Ltd., asked several witnesses why they did not use the two companies' excursions. He was told that express coaches were quicker, and booked seats did not have to be taken up in bad weather.
Withdrawal Offer At this point, Mr. Backhouse offered to withdraw the objections if the applicants would agree not to pick up at the inn at 11 a.m., which would give the excursion operators some protection.
Mr. G. Dawes, a Ribble traffic assistant, said this was an impossible suggestion and, in any case, there was a principle at stake. He did not see why companies running frequent express services every day regardless of weather conditions should have to give way to people operating spasmodic excursions.
Mr. Backhouse replied that it was sometimes necessary for excursion operators to he protected because express services were becoming highly competitive and menacing. The excursion B20 operators had to rely on the Traffic Commissioners for protection because there was nothing they could do about it themselves.
In evidence, Mr. W. Hackett, for both objectors, claimed that if the application were granted the companies might lose a considerable amount of traffic.
Mr. Walker submitted that 1rlam was an expanding centre of population and a substantial number of people wanted this picking-up point, which was why the application had been made.
Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, said it would be against the public interest to refuse the application.