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Strong Opposition to Lourdes Tour Appeal

1st June 1956, Page 75
1st June 1956
Page 75
Page 75, 1st June 1956 — Strong Opposition to Lourdes Tour Appeal
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

F1VE to operators last week

responded to an appeal by the Victory Omnibus Co., Ltd., Romford; against the refusal of the Metropolitan Deputy Licensing Authority to authorize them to run a tour from Brentwood to Lourdes, with a pickingup point in London. The application was refused because of insufficient evidence of need.

Red Line Continental Motorways, Ltd., Blue Cars Continental Coach Cruises, Ltd., Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., Glenton Tours, Ltd., and British Railways were respondents.

Mr. J. Shaw, for the appellants, said they wished to run 10-day tours for Roman Catholic pilgrims desiring to take part in the religious exercises at Lourdes. There was only one licence or that type of tour in the country, and that was held by a Wigan operator.

In March last year, Victory Omnibra; Co. were granted a licence to Lourdes for a year, their evidence having been based on the needs of the 90,000 Catholics. During the year, applications for tickets had come not only from Brentwood but from all over the country, as well as Ireland, the Commonwealth and other countries.

Objections that the appellants would not be able to restrict passengers to Catholic pilgrims, and that there was no demand, were without merit in view of last season's operations, he said. The tours would not be in competition with the railways and would not affect the specially run pilgrimages.

Mr. H. R. Herbert, for the objecting coach operators, said his clients were "ready, willing and able" to cope with the need if it Were shown. The appellants were seeking to run a holiday service abroad. There had been positive evidence that existing facilities could provide the service.

It was claimed for the appellants that 80-90 per cent, of Roman Catholics would want to travel to Lourdes if these facilities were available. Taken literally, this would mean some 70,000 in the immediate areas, or some 2.5m. in Engiand. "That is just not borne out by the evidence of the witnesses," Mr. Herbert commented.

FRENCH COMPETITION FOR DRIVERS

ACONTEST , for drivers of heavy vehicles, similar to the Lorry Driver of the Year Competitions in England and Scotland, is being held for the third time in France this year. Eliminating rounds, which began in Bordeaux on April 15, are being held all over France on 12 Sundays.

The final competition will take place near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during the Paris Show in October. The Shell and Dunlop companies are among the supporters. Entrants must have been free from accident for a year.