Commissioners to arbitrate on bus terminus

20th September 1968, Page 94

20th September 1968

Page 94

Page 94, 20th September 1968 — Commissioners to arbitrate on bus terminus

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• The Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners were asked at a public inquiry in Leeds on Tuesday to arbitrate regarding the terminal point of a stage carriage service operated by West Yorkshire Road Car Co. Ltd. and Bradford City Transport to Eldwick. near Bingley. There was a very serious and dangerous traffic problem and drivers' apprehensions had been voiced by their trade unions, said Mr. W. R. Hargrave for the joint operators, and public safety was paramount.

Bingley urban district council was objecting to the application but there was no rancour. His clients wished to terminate the service at Lindale Road, which was 280yd short of the present terminal at Spring Lane, but this would mean some passengers would have to walk up the hill to join the service.

Until 1963 the buses had turned round in a car park of the Acorn Hotel but since this facility had been withdrawn, vehicles had had to pull across to the offside of Otley main road and, when the conductor was satisfied that no traffic was approaching, back into Spring Lane.

Traffic had increased and as the section was de-restricted vehicles came rapidly down the "tortuous" route which included an S-bend and a 1 in 5; gradient, said Mr. C. G. Craven, assistant traffic manager of West Yorkshire. A survey had shown that only some 30 passengers would be affected daily by the change and it was more desirable that the buses should turn in Lindale Road cul-de-sac than the busy thoroughfare of Spring Lane which a census showed received half the daily 1,300 cars coming down the Otley Road.

Mr. J. H. Hill, traffic superintendent, Bradford Corporation, said the reversing problem was more ,acute for its doubledeckers since they were 30ft-long-2ft 6in. more than the West Yorkshire buses. Lindale Road, was the "lesser of the two evils" even with a school on the corner of this road.

The corporation had not taken disciplinary action against two drivers who had damaged a wall while undertaking the present reversing procedure with its severe gradient, he said.

Mr. R. Cowper, Bingley engineer and surveyor, said the narrowness of Lindale Road would necessitate the buses crossing the centre of the main road when reversing and children attending the school had to cross the mouth of the cul-de-sac. Houseowners who had paid for the road, and passengers who would have to walk the additional distance, should also be considered but from a safety angle there was nothing to choose between the two alternatives.

Mr. A. E. Morris, an Eldwick resident, handed in a petition including signatures of the headmistress and staff of the school, objecting to the permanent change.

The Commissioners said they wished to inspect the site before giving their decision.