Trams, Chief Cause of Congestion
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THE chief cause of traffic congestion in Glasgow was the retention of the tram. This was submitted by Mr. G. S. Beattie, secretary of the Scottish Retail Drapers' Association, last Friday, during the inquiry into Glasgow Corporation's proposals to improve the traffic flow by banning parking in 82 central streets and to, introduce unilateral parking in 17 others. Goods vehicles would be allowed 30 minutes to load or unload.
"This Associdtion contends that the solution of Glasgow's trafficproblem must first be sought in a real attempt to enforce existing regulations, and by positive steps to remove the tramcars which now dominate the streets and contribute so largely to congestion," said Mr. Beattie.
Parked oars must be moved from the centre of Glasgow if reasonable traffic conditions were to exist in the city, said Mr. Douglas .Reith, QC., for the corporation, when he made his closing speech on Tuesday.
Mr. Reith wanted to dispel the notion that the corporation's regulations were directed against commerce. The intention was to help the commercial life of the city and, although that. contention was greeted with hollow laughter by the traders in the fruit market, it was not so regarded by big concerns, such as British Railways.
Earlier, Mr. I. B. Rodger made his closing speech on behalf of the motoring organizations. He said that in principle they took the view that it was reasonable that kerbside parking and waiting should be restricted in the city centre only in busy, narrow roads or on certain bus routes.
The organizations suggested that the proposed regulations were in many cases premature. It was doubtful whether the improvement likely to he achieved in the flow of traffic would be so great as to justify the inconvenience, disturbance and hardship caused.
The inquiry concluded and the Commissioner, Mr. J. M. Cowan, Q.C., will report to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
BOURNEMOUTH SERVICE APPEALS
APPEALS were heard in Leeds on Tuesday by Yorkshire Pool Services and Wallace Arnold (Tours}, Ltd., Leeds. against the refusal by the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to allow them to run tours from Leeds and Bradford to Bournemouth on Friday nights, returning on the following nights. The respondents were the railways, YelIoway Motor Services, Ltd., and Hebble Motor Services, Ltd.
Mr. W. R. Hargrave, for the Pool, said it had not been established that wasteful competition would be caused. Mr. A. C. N. Shelley, Ministry, of Transport inspector, adjourned the hearing.