Seamarks Expr ess Services Bid
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THERE was strong opposition from seven coach operators and British Railways at Manchester this week to an application by Seamarks Bros. Ltd., Westoning, Bedfordshire, to run express. services between Manchester and Luton Airport Seamarks already holds licences from Leicester and Northampton to the airport.
Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon, for the company, said that only passengers travelling to the Continent for holidays with Universal Skytours Ltd. would use the services. Recently Skytours had been granted a licence enabling the company to use the airport and the coaches would be chartered between Skytours and the applicants, said Mr. Gibbon. Previously some passengers had gone from Ringway, London or Gatwick airports, but services were being concentrated at Luton.
Mr. G. Bruno, London general manager of Skytours, said that the company was diverting traffic from Manchester in respect of coach-air tours. Often the timings of aircraft could not be relied on and a flexible coach service was essential. At this juncture the chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, Maj-Gen. A. F. J. Elmslie, issued a warning that there had been reports of alleged illegal journeys from Manchester to Luton.
Mr. F. D. Walker, objecting for the North Western Road Car Co. Dd. and Yelloway Motor Services Ltd.. asked whether, if the application were refused, Skytours would support other licensed operators if they were willing to provide a special service between Manchester and Lutoh. Mr. Bruno said that he would have to consult other directors before he answered.
Maj.-Gen. Elmslie said that he could not (as had been suggested) grant a shortterm dispensation to Seamarks, but the Commissioners were concerned about passengers who would be taking a holiday with Skytours. He invited the two groups of extended tours and express operators to submit, as soon as possible, written application in the terms which had been outlined.
Wingrove Appeal Dismissed
THE Minister of Transport has dismissed an appeal by Jack Wingrove Ltd. against the refusal of the Metropolitan deputy Traffic Commissioner to grant a road-service licence to operate various excursions and tours starting from Hazlemere, Bucks.
The Minister agreed that there was considerable evidence of demand, but it seemed to him that the evidence of alleged need for new licensed facilities was altogether insufficient.