Operators Challenge Use of Station
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FOUR Southport coach operators appealed at Manchester last week _against the decision of the North Western Licensing Authority to grant Howard Coaches, Ltd., Preston, a variation of their licence authorizing excursions and tours from Southport promenade. They were Messrs. Eoole Bros., Enterprise Tours (Southport), Ltd.. Southport and Birkdale Motor and Carriage Co., Ltd., and Bullock and France, Ltd. It was stated that Howard Coaches were a subsidiary of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and the variation per-rnitted them to add a picking-up and setting-down point at Lord Street bus
station, a disused railway station which Ribble had converted into a bus station.
The appellant contended that the bus station was a most competitive point to that on the promenade. and that if Howard Coaches moved into it they would have the "first tap" for tours and excursions of thousands of incoming passengers on Ribble's express services. They did not agree with the Licensing Authority that various amenities at the bus station would be an advantage to the public, as there was no evidence at the hearing that the public were short of amenities on the promenade. At the bus station, Howard Coaches would be given an all-day opportunity of picking up passengers. Commenting on the Authority's observation that it would be wrong to deprive Ribble of the " full fruit of their enterprise,unless the objectors could show they would be adversely affected, the appellants contended that the new bus station was bought for Ribble's express services and not lot excursions and tours.