BID FOR LONDON TRANSPORT BY GLC?
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TALKS to consider a possible takeover of London Transport by the Greater London 1 Council may be started soon, announced Sir William Fiske, leader of the council, on Tuesday.
Sir William referred to the need to eliminate the basic defect in big conurbations—
namely that public transport, road building and maintenance and traffic control were separately planned and financed. The concept of a conurbation transport authority-could have a very significant effect on relations between the council and London Transport, he said.
Sir William added that it was his personal hope that provided there were suitable financial administrative safeguards the council would not shrink from playing a leading part in the establishment of such a transport authority in London. If the committees concerned agreed, they would start discussing whether they would take over London Transport and on what terms. Reports on the possible takeover will come before the council on December 13.
A statement from the Ministry of Transport said: "Clearly Sir William Fiske was stating a personal point of view on this subject. Indeed, he made this explicit in his answer.
"The GLC committees concerned will now be considering the Transport White Paper and presumably will report back to the council. We would expect, once the council has considered these reports, that discussions would take place between the GLC and the Ministry.
"The Minister is meanwhile considering what her policy for London should be in the light of the policy lines laid down in the White Paper. There is also an inquiry into the finances and organization of London Transport which will be running in parallel with these other discussions".
Meanwhile a spokesman for London Transport said: "London Transport has for some time been conscious of defects in the organization of transport in London and since June has been consulting with the Minister of Transport on co-ordination with British Railways, GLC and the Metropolitan Police. As these consultations are continuing, London Transport has no further comment to make".
The London Transport Board was set up by the 1962 Transport Act and this Act would obviously have to be repealed (as is already proposed) before any "takeover" could take place. Judging by the non-committal statement from the Ministry it could well be that Mrs. Castle favours such a change of control. It falls in line with her policy towards large conurbations.
But what about the large sections of London Transport operating territory which fall outside the GLC area? Who would become responsible for bus services operated by LTB there? These country services could not stand on their own and would have to be subsidized from some source or other.
It is also somewhat paradoxical that before the establishment of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, about half the extensive network of electric tramways in the London area was owned and operated by the former London County Council.
Derek Moses