Coaches to be banned in Weymouth?
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• The Borough of Weymouth and Melcombo Regis applied this week to the Western Traffic Commissioners to alter all road service licence and backing conditions on authorized excursions, tours and express services to and from Weymouth so that all coaches, with a few exceptions. would have to use a proposed coach park at Lodmoor, a mile from the town centre, instead of the existing one at Westham.
The hearing was held at Weymouth and there were 47 objectors, including the PVOA, Hants and Dorset Motor Services Ltd., Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd., City of Oxford Motor Services Ltd., Shamrock and Rambler Motor Coaches Ltd., Excelsior Motorways (Bournemouth) Ltd., A. Timpson and Son Ltd., Coliseum Coaches Ltd., and Greenslades Tours Ltd.
Representing the council Mr. E. J. Jones, town clerk, said it had become greatly concerned with the ever-increasing volume of traffic in Weymouth, especially along the Esplanade Road and at the King's Statue complex. He would offer in evidence a number of plans, documents and computerized data related to the present traffic conditions.
Mr. Jones thought the new arrangements would offer a better deal to operators and passengers alike. "It's not the coach operators who have been chivied by the police] in the past 10 years", he said, "it's the private car owners."
The borough engineer and surveyor, Mr. J. H. M. Houseago, was called as the council's first witness and he remained in the witness box all day, mostly under cross-examination. He said he would explain how the council had "endeavoured to deal with its traffic problem in the past, which will indicate that the motorist has been particularly penalized in order to improve the traffic conditions".
He said that in October 1962 a subcommittee was appointed by the Watch Committee to consider a one-way traffic system in the town centre. Its report was considered several times and amendments were made accordingly when the Southern National Omnibus Co. Ltd. made representations with regard to its stage carriage services. In October 1965 a public inquiry was held and a report confirming the council's proposals was made, he said. It was submitted to the MoT divisional road engineer responsible for the major cost of the schemes who requested that the traffic flows should be tested again with the aid of the Ministry's traffic Advisory Unit.
In July, 1968, he said, the final scheme was approved by the council and this included traffic signals at the Westway Road /VVestham Road junction by the coach park. A contraflow system for Southern National was included. A press button situated on the traffic light standard at cab level could be operated by the bus driver when stopped at the signal. On pressing the button the lights changed, allowing the bus to proceed across and against the regular flow of traffic.
Mr. Houseago said the new one-way system would make it impossible for coaches to use the existing coach park because licence conditions prevented the use of some of the streets included in the new system. It would not be implemented until the decision "regarding the removal of the coaches to Ladmoor has been resolved", he said.
Consultations took place with the PVOA after the council approved, in April 1968, the move of the existing park to Lodmoor. The PVOA suggested a lay-by on the Esplanade for setting down and picking up passengers and although this received considerable attention it was thought the scheme would cause a traffic hazard.
Mr. Houseago said the new site had many advantages. It was only 170yd from the sea compared with 700yd at the present park and it was much less congested. He thought that people who came to Weymouth wanted to go to the beach—not to the shops, which would be served by taxis and buses. The existing stage services would also be greatly improved if they did not have to combat the present congested traffic.
Another disadvantage with the existing park, he said, was the large number of people crossing from it, via King's Statue, to the beach. He revealed that 2,900 per hour had been counted and claimed that considerable congestion was caused by people filtrating between the traffic.
Mr. Philip Evans, representing all but one of the objectors, asked Mr. Houseago what faci lities were going to be provided for as many as 175 coach loads of people. Mr. Houseago said he did not know, but would provide whatever the operators wanted. He agreed that the nearest cafe was half a mile away in the opposite direction.
"What amusements are there", asked Mr. Evans, "other than the pebbles?"
"There's the go-kart", replied Mr. Houseago.
"And how much money do you expect to spend", asked Mr. Evans, "£100?"
"Oh no, much more than that", said Mr. Houseago.
Mr. Evans asked what would happen to Westham when the coaches were gone but Mr. Houseago said he did not really know. He did say, however, that it would hold 600 parked cars and, out of choice, he would park his car there.
"Not much sand at Lodmoor, is there" commented Mr. Evans.
-No," agreed Mr. Houseago, "except at low-tide."
Mr. Evans said he felt this was not really acceptable for families with small children. He asked how long it would take to travel from Lodmoor to the town centre. Mr. Houseago explained that Southern National were pre pared to Tnst rtute a new service from the park to the town centre at 1s single and 1s 6d return. He said he could not say how long it would take, but it had taken him only seven minutes by car when there had been no traffic. He did agree that it could take as long as 20 minutes at peak periods.
"And what would be the frequency of the Service?" asked Mr. Evans.
Mr. Houseago said the proposed service was a shuttle service with a five-minute frequency. "Twelve buses per hour to move 3,000 people!" exclaimed Mr, Evans.
Mr. Houseago agreed that Southern National did not have buses capable of carrying 250 people a time. He doubted if all the 3,000 people would want to go to the town centre, at least not by bus as it was a pleasant walk.
"In the pouring rain?" asked Mr. Evans.
He expressed concern at the half-day tours which only allowed one hour in Weymouth.
Mr. Evans said a 40-minute return journey from the coach park would not leave sufficient time to see Weymouth. Mr. Houseago said it was unfortunate but these people would have to he content with Preston beach. He also admitted that the rejected lay-by had only made provision for two coaches and the cost to the council would have been £900. He felt Mr. Evans's suggestion of an eight-coach lay-by was neither practical nor physically possible.
For the objectors Mr. Alfred E. Smith, managing director of Smiths Luxury Coaches, Reading, said he had operated express services to Weyrnouth for many years and also handled a small amount of excursion traffic.
Asked what he thought about the proposed shuttle bus service from Lodmoor, Mr. Smith replied: "it would be a ridiculous adventure to attempt it with all the luggage, etc."
Mr. Harry Railings, traffic manager of Excelsior European Motorways, Bournemouth, said his coaches would definitely not go on half-day excursions to Weymouth if the coaches were sent to Lodmoor, nor would he continue to take senior citizens on special holidays to Weymouth. Mr. Rollings said halfday excursion visits by Bournemouth passengers were made to see the town of Weymouth, not the sea. The case continued.