IMPORTANT ITEMS OF THE PAST WEEK
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
South Eastern Fares Committee Meeting To-day.
REFERENCES have been made in )this journal in the past few weeks to apprehension amongst operators as to the delay in instituting a fares schedule for coach services in the Southern, SouthEastern and Metropolitan Traffic Areas for the 1932 season. Last week arrangements were made for a meeting of the No. 1 (South-Eastern) Regional Fares Sub-committee to be held in London to-day. The convener of the meeting is Mr. H. Baynton, of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., and the meeting will be held at 2.15 p.m. at Committee Room B, Central Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.1.
This regional sub-committee is one of • those set up by the committee appointed by the Traffic Commissioners on December 8th, and it function is to endeavour to fix actual fares for express services on all routes from London to destinations south of the Thames and east of a line drawn from London through Tunbridge Wells to Bexhill, including services to those places.
So far as possible notices have been sent to all operators who are known to be running services, either seasonal or non-seasonal, in the area affected, and they are invited either to appear personally this afternoon or to give power to their local associations to represent them. The Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., probably represents the majority of the operators concerned and will no doubt lead the constructive work of devising a schedule, as it did in 1931.
Important Llandudno Protest.
LLANDUDNO COUNCIL is strongly
protesting against certain conditions which the North-Western Traffic Commissioners have attached to licences for long-distance coach services between Lancashire and Noeth Wales. A roselution has been passed by the council to send a deputation to the hearing of the appeal against these decisions, which has been lodged by Cream Coaches in respect of the Rochdale-Llandudpo services. The objectionable licence Condition is one barring the picking up of passengers at about 10 towns on the route, all of which are regarded as important feeders to the North Wales holiday traffic. At the council meeting hope was expressed that the deputation would be allowed a hearing at the appeal.
Coach Services to Whipsnade Zoo.
CONSIDERATION has been given by the Metropolitan Commissioner to the provision of better facilities this year for the public to .visit Whipsnade Zoo by means of road services. A few days ago applications by Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd., and Green Line
Coaches, Ltd., were heard. A representative of the ZoologicalSociety said' that between Whitsun, 1931, and the end of the year they had 340,311 visitors, of whom 50,226 were children ; for children motor-coach services were of great importance. This season, it was stated, there would be many more animals and better motor-park accommodation.
The Keith and Boyle concern has applied to run from Camberwell four times daily from Whitsun until,tlae end of the year, whilst the Green Line company has applied for a two-hourly service from Brixton garage and Poland Street Station (hourly on Sundays and holidays) from Maunday Thureday to September. Both applicants agreed that -there would not be sufficient traffic on ordinary days to justify both Hewes as applied for, but on fine Sundays both services together would probably be insufficient. Decision was reserved.
Reduction in Brighton Bus Fares.
AT Brighton the other day the South Eastern Commissioners approved a scheme submitted on behalf of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., for the reduction of bus fares in Brighton and Hove.
When the services were licensed some time ago the Commissioners intimated that fares ought to be reduced to the extent represented by the voluntary annual payment previously made to Brighton and Hove Corporations. It is understood that the main advantage to the public will be the lengthening of *some penny stages the average length of which will be, .902 mile instead of .827 mile, as it is at present On 14 routes the overall fates evill be id. less. The company reckons that 'the-reductions represent about £20,000 per annum.
Bus Licences in Ayr.
DECISIONS have been announced ber the Southern Scotland Commissioners concerning the recent applications by the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., for licences to operate bus services in Ayr and Prestwick, the applications following upon the recent arrangement whereby the S.M.T. undertaking took over the Ayr tramways. Applications by a local company have been refused, whilst those of the S.M.T. concern have been 'granted with modifications as to frequency.
The Commissioners have permitted the retention of fares as hitherto charged on the tramways. Certain operators in the area have applied for the deletion of a protection clause attached to their road service licences. Public Representations Call for Personal Appearance.
WHEN the Southern Scotland Com
missioners were hearing certain applications by the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., at Edinburgh recently, reference was made to a eopi-_ plaint by the Musselburgh Ratepayers -Association that the fares charged, in the Musselburgh area were too high. The chairman, Mr. Alexander Henderson; pointed out that, in cases where members or representatives of the public wished to make complaints, it would be preferable if they made personal appearanee. at the sittings so as to give operators a chance of replying to them.
-London Coaches to Brooiunans Park.
A PEW days back the Metropolitan
Commissioner dealt with the application of Messrs. C. W. Lewis (Cream Line Coaches), Potters Bar, for a licence to operate a half-hourly service between Brookmans Park and Charing Cress. The Commissioner referred to his having granted licences for Green Line Coaches, Ltd., to operate between London and Welwyn, this route covering the Brookmans Park area.
Evidence showed that, until the Green Line started operation along this route, the applicant ran but one coach daily' in each direction, but that afterwards he commenced to -operate a competitive service. The Commissioner announced his decision to grant a licence to Messrs. Lewis for the particular purpose of providing additional facilities to those residing on the new Brookmans Park estate. He sanctioned 10 services daily, with a pick-up only at Potters Bar, and the London terminus is to be either Highgate or Golders Green, whichever passengers prefer.
Two Renewed Applications Refused.
TWO interesting cases have come before the West Midland Commissioners during the past few days, when they have been sitting at Hanley. Two operators who had been refused services, and whose appeals against the refusals were rejected by the Minister of Transport, made renewed applications to the Commissioners, and were in each case again refused the licences they sought.
Mr. T. Gee applied for permission to recommence his service between Hanley and Leek via Abbey Hulton. It was stated that this operator was willing to co-ordinate with the Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., and that his receipts during 1931, up to the time when his service was cancelled, amounted to £2,300, giving a figure of 13ed. per vehicle-mile. Leek Council supported the application: Allegations were made that, in the past, licensing conditions had been disregarded, and the Commissioners again refused the application. The service has been operated since 1928.
The other case was that of Messrs. Keeling and Son, and concerned their service from Longton to Uttoxeter. Evidence was given that receipts from January to June, 1921, amounted to £3,765, or 6.87d. per mile. The applicants were questioned as to operating costs, and it was stated that on a figure of 6.87d. a profit of 0.17d. was made. In refusing the application the Commissioners stated that they considered the applicants were heading for bankruptcy.
Open-top Buses for London.
THREE A.E.C. open-top enclosedstairway double-deck buses have recently been put into service in London by Messrs. Charles H. Pickup, 5, Lothian
Road, London, S.E.5. They are' the first of their type to be used in the Metropolis, and if the public response to the innovation reaches expectations there is a possibility that the number may be increased.
In summer two of the routes covered by Messrs. Pickup carry a considerable amount of pleasure traffic, and it is felt that in warm weather, if any, there is a strong public preference for open-top vehicles.
The chassis are of the maker's Regent four-wheeled type and the 58seater bodies are of Park Royal make ; 26 persons are accommodated in the saloon and 30 on the upper deck.
Tees-side Route Decision,
SIR JOHN MAXWELL, acting chair.man of the Northern Commissioners, announced at Stockton the other day decisions in connection with several applications concerning Tees-side bus services. The application of Stockton C,orPoration for the service between Stockton and the Transporter Bridge has been granted on the grounds that it has been in existence for some years, the number of passengers carried during the past year amounting to 3,750,000.
As regards the Stockton service to the Transporter Bridge via Dillingham, the Commissioners have decided that there shall be a service of 10 minutes' frequency, four out of every six buses being operated by Stockton Corporation and the remaining two by United Automobile Services, Ltd. It was indicated that when the new Tees bridge is opened all the services in this district will have to be reconsidered.
B44 East Midland Commissioners Entertained.
AT the recent dinner of the Lincoln
shire Omnibus Owners Association, held at Scunthorpe, Mr. Jr. H. Stirk, J.P., M.Inst.T., chairman of the East Midland Commissioners, was present. The president of the association, Mr. W. E. G. Clark, paid a tribute to the consideration given by the Commissioners to the case of the small operator.
Mr. Stirk, in reply, stressed the value of membership of associations, particularly as affecting the smaller operating companies. The general tenor of the speeches was that the early apprehensions over the Road Traffic Act were, to some extent, unfounded.
Important Southdown Acquisitions,
IT is announced that Southdown Motor
Services, Ltd., Brighton, has purchased the fleet of motor coaches, goodwill and certain other assets of Chapman and Sons (Eastbourne), Ltd., as well as of Southern Glideway Coaches, Ltd., Eastbourne. The freehold property belonging to the Chapman concern has not been taken over, but the acquisition of the business was confirmed at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held last Monday. The issued capital of the Chapman company amounts to about £85,000.
It is, of course, necessary for the Traffic Commissioners to license the Southdown company to continue the services operated by the concerns acquired, including the London-Eastbourne service of the Southern Glideway undertaking..
Health Resorts Watch the Licensing.
ArT the Conference of Health and
Pleasure Resorts the clerk to the council of Clacton-on-Sea drew attention to certain difficulties which had been experienced in regard to the issue of licences for public-service vehicles to ply from places west of London to Clacton, and inquired whether other towns had experienced similar difficulties. The consensus of opinion was that it was premature to criticize the working of the Road Traffic Act and the work of the Traffic Commissioners, but it was agreed that towns experiencing difficulties in regard to the administration of the Act should forward details to the honorary secretary for consideration by the executive committee.
The Luton Applications Heard.
A PEW days ago the East Midland Commissioners devoted nearly five hours to a consideration of traffic conditions in Luton. Applications by
Luton Corporation for licences to substitute buses on three routes hitherto operated by trams were considered, as well as applications by the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., for licences to Oivert the routes of five of its services through the centre of Luton. No decision was given at the time, although agreement was reached on several
pi pi
There was a number of objections to the corporation's applications, but some were withdrawn, notably those concerning extending the bus routes to the ends of tram routes authorized by the corporation Tramways Order. Another objection, to proposed increases in service frequency, was met by a compromise.
The question as to whether the corporation is justified in claiming protective fares or whether the Eastern National undertaking should be given equality in this respect is one which the Commissioners have to settle.
rroposed New London Bus Route. INTIMATION has been sent to South gate Urban District Council by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., to the effect that it proposes to institute a new bus service between Muswell Hill Broadway and Southgate. Residents in Powys Lane are organizing a petition protesting against buses running along that highway. In such a case as this, of course, in which public-service vehicles are used to ply for hire by short stages within the Metropolitan Police District, application has to be made to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner for a licence, under Section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869.
The committee of Southgate Council is requesting the Police Commissioner not to grant the licence.
Blue Belle Motors: Important Deal.
A CONTROLLING financial interest in Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., London, has been acquired by G. Scammell and Nephew' Ltd., the well-known engineering and bodybuilding concern. The London Terminal Coach Station, in Clapham Road, which was used' by 11,000 coaches in 1931, and the Blue Belle fleet of 65 modern motor coaches, mostly of A.E.C. Regal type, will come under the new control.
Liverpool and Crosville: An Agreement. DURING the past week alterations
have been made in certain Liverpool bus services consequent upon a new agreement that has been arrived at between Liverpool Corporation and
Crosville Motor Services, Ltd. It is understood that the agreement has received provisional approval by the Commissioners. Services of the Crosville concern, which have not hitherto been permitted to cater for local passengers, will be 'able to carry such passengers at a minimum fare of 4d. Co-ordinated services are to be run.
York Corporation Services.
AT the time of going to press arrange
ments are being completed by which the passenger transport services of York Corporation will be taken over by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd. The corporation runs buses and trams, the bus services having commenced as early as February, 1915. The L.M.S. and L.N.E. railway companies acquired in December, 1929, a substantial interest in the West Yorkshire undertaking..
Warning Against Attempts to Dispose of Services.
MR. A. T. JAMES, K.C., chairman of • the South Wales Commissioners, sitting at Carmarthen, has issued a warning against attempts at the sale of services with running rights. He said that it was useless for operators to come before the Commissioners with such sale, purchase or arrangement of route rights as a basis for licence claims. The Commissioners would consider only the question as to ,which applicants were suited to serve routes, without regard tosuch arrangements. Operators should bear this in mind. Ealing Corporation in Favour of Coach Halts.
IT has been decided by the highways committee of Ealing Corporation to support the appeal of Varsity Express Motors, Ltd., against the proposal of the Commissioners to curtail pick-up points on the London coach services.