Second fare increase in Kent
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FACED with big operating losses at the end of 1975, two Kent bus companies want to increase their fares—for the second time this year.
Plans to keep the East Kent and Maidstone and District companies out of the red include charging children adult rates during afternoon peak hours. General rises of from lp to 7p are also proposed as is a provision to meet future cost increases by "triggers."
The increases the companies wish to introduce would come into effect towards the end of October and are estimated to produce additional revenue of £391,000 for East Kent and £667,000 for Maidstone and District in the following six months.
Last year, East Kent had an operating loss of £285,000 and .Maidstone and District of £255,000, with the prospect of worse to come for 1975. '
Increased fares so far this year have been designed in the main to meet higher operating costs but there has been a shortfall in revenue which, in conjunction with further increases in costs, will inevitably keep both companies in the red.
"We greatly regret that this application has had to come so hard on the heels of the last one," said Mr Laurence Nob the companies' manager (e ministration).
" We fully appreciate t difficulties higher fares w cause, especially those f schoolchildren. But the fa remains that peak period si vices are by far the mc expensive to operate and pe buses are to a large exte used by children. It costs i less to provide transport f them than it does for adults The Traffic Commissionei hearings of the applicatio: have been fixed for Septemb 30 and October 1 at MaidStoi for Maidstone and District as October 8 and 9 at Oanterbui for East Kent.