One-armed Driver-Operator Appeals
Page 37
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AT an inquiry held at Bristol last week, Mr. J. M. Glen, a Ministry of Transport Inspector, heard an appeal by Mr. Leslie C. Munden, Hampstead Road, Brislington, Bristol, a one-armed coach driver, against the refusal of the Western Traffic Commissioners to grant him a licence in respect of a group of excursions and tours starting from Brislington (The Commercial Motor, April 15).
Mr, Munden, who wanted to operate excursions only during the summer to various centres in the West Country, said: "The big firms will not notice me if I obtain the licence, and Brislington residents will get a better service because at present they have to walk long distances to a picking-up point."
He admitted that since making his application some of the objectors had added new picking-up points in the district, but, he contended, the suburb was not well served. Mr. Munden produced a petition signed by 1,200 local residents supporting his case, but the inspector ruled that new evidence could not be allowed.
Mr. W. M. Huntley, for Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., Wessex Coaches, Ltd., Empress Coaches and British Railways, submitted that it v•ras not true, as Mr. Munden suggested, that they wanted to put him out of business. They would never be able to do that because his business was growing satisfactorily. Excursions were not a growing business and the limit had been reached to far as the number of operators was concerned. There had been no serious, attempt to provide evidence of complaint about existing services or the need for an additional one, he said.
Other objectors were: Bristol Cooperative Society, Ltd., Associated Motorways, Mrs. A. Wild (Eagle Coaches), Bristol, and F. J. Miller (Bristol), Ltd.
The Minister's decision would be announced later, said Mr. Glen.