Oxford Increases Approved : Birmingham to Apply

1st June 1956, Page 75

1st June 1956

Page 75

Page 75, 1st June 1956 — Oxford Increases Approved : Birmingham to Apply

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I N a reserved decision, the East Midland Licensing Authority has granted permission to City of Oxford "Motor Services, Ltd., to increase fares on their city and country services. Last month, the South Eastern Authority authorized an application by the company to raise fares in his area subject to the decision of the East Midland Authority (The Commercial Motor, May 4).

Commenting on the country services, the Authority said in his decision that the proposal to adopt in toto the general mileage scale introduced, and approved with certain limitations, with the last application would result in some single fares being increased by an unreasonable amount.

"The Authority is not prepared, merely for the sake of securing immediate uniformity of charges, to authorize revisions of fares which would involve payment at one step of exceptionally steep increases by some members of the travelling public," the decision went on. It had been decided, therefore, that certain of the proposed increases would be limited.

Birmingham Transport Department is to apply for permission to increase bus fares. It has been estimated that the department needs another £300,000 a year to keep it solvent. Details of the proposed increases have not yet been revealed, but it is understood that there is support for the plan of the chairman of the transport committee, Aid. Harry Watton, to raise week-end fares by a Id. In March, Birmingham Trades Council passed a resolution condemning the proposal for week-end fare increases.

Mr. Gregory Prescott, the Birmingham businessman who successfully fought a legal action against the corporation over their proposal to give concession fares, is appealing to the city's ratepayers to oppose any further increases.

The British Transport Commission announced last week that they have applied to the Transport Tribunal for authority to increase early-morning fares and some season-ticket rates on London Transport as well as British Railways. If the increases are authorized, they will not come into operation " before autumn at the earliest."

The application has been made now because "in view of increasing costs, the Commission feel bound to seek the authority so that, if it is granted, it may be available."

Under the proposed changes, earlymorning return fares on London Transport would be raised by amounts between Id. and 3d.