Bus objectors lose out
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DESPITE appeals by several operators against the granting of stai carriage licences to Trefaldwyn Motors Ltd, Transport Secretai David Howell upheld the decision of the North Western Area Tref Commissioners after considering the report of his inspector at public inquiry held in Shrewsbury.
Objections to the licences had been lodged by Mid-Wales Motorways Ltd, Powysland Coaches Ltd, W T Owen Sons and Parish Motor Services. MidWales Motorways withdrew its objections before the inquiry.
The objections were lodged because the operators felt the Trefaldwyn application had been precipitated by the knowledge that Powys County Council was to discontinue school contracts and replace them with stage carriage services. The objectors felt that Trefaldwyn was simply trying to obtain business by applying for licences to run over the routes they carried children on school contracts.
They contended that the
favouring of one operator at t expense of others by granting licences applied for to tloperator would mean few vehicles for private hire, exct sions and express services. Thi also contended that the into tion of the Transport Act 19 was to encourage competitio not to put operators out of bul ness.
Since the original applicatic in March, Powys County Couni have terminated the scho contracts operated by the oth operators and Trefaldwyn a now carrying the children c stage services.
In his conclusion the Inspect noted that Powysland Coach' was, from its evidence, not exa gerating in its claim that witho the school contracts it could n survive although he did not co sider that the other business' would be affected as drastically He did think, though, that the school contracts were ti minable the operators were ni in a position to complain of the termination. Putting it brutal and legally the County Counc did not owe them a livelihood.
Mr Howell was not satisfiE that to grant the Trefaldwy licence was against the publ interest.
He regretted that the Commi sioners had not heard licenc applications from the objectir operators to run over the route before the inspector's inquiry.