Ribble Do Not Want to Fill Breach
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IT was not disputed that since the closing of _the railway branch line there was some demand for a bus service between Skelmersdale and Rainford. But RibbleMotor Services, Ltd., were anxious to ensure that they would not be expected to step into the _breach if the applicant were granted a spbstantive licence and later gave it up, as had happened with other services:
• They were also seeking. protection over part of the route for the. St. Helens —Southport service,. .which . they operated jointly with Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and St. . Helen's Corporation. • The North Western Traffic Commissioners were told this at Manchester,
last Week, by Mr. G. Dawes. objecting for the joint operators, to an application by Gregsons (Motors), Ltd., Skehnersdale, for a new stage service between Skelmersdaie and St. Helens, via Rainford.
Mr. E. A. Whitehead, for the applicants, 'said they were granted a shortterm licence for the service in November (The Commercial Motor, November 9), Cregsons acknowledged that the objectors had a prior claim to part of the route between St. Helens and Rainford, and the application had been framed so as not to compete.
At the request of Skehnersdale and Rainford Councils, they were now asking for :two additional points in Skelmersdale and four in Rainford. There would be two journeys daily from Monday to. Friday, and three on Saturday, at return fares only.
13-mile Detour
Since the closure of the railway, the only public transport between Skelmersdale and Rainford, a distance of 4 miles,' involved changing and a detour of 13. miles.
Mr. W. B. Gregson said he considered the average. of -approximately 12 passengers per journey over a period of 1.5 weeks as very good, considering Ribble's suggestions at the previous hearing that railway loadings had been insignificant. He was not prepared to give an undertaking not to apply for variation of the licence, as Ribble were seeking. He did not know -what might happen in the future.
Granting the application, the chair man, Mr. F. Williamson, said the substantive licence would be for an express service. There would be a protective clause, and if Mr. Gregson wanted a variation be nuist apply to alter that condition as well.