No At-the-Door Pick-ups for Holiday-makers in Morecambe
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IF one operator was allowed to pick up I passengers at their hotels, naturally other companies would apply for similar facilities, the North Western Traffic Commissioners were told at Blackpool last week.
J. Battersby and Son, Ltd., of Morecambe, wished to pick up passengers who had been pre-booked on Morecambe and Lakeland inclusive holidays at a number of associated hotels in Morecambe. They also wished to increase the number of vehicles operated on any one day from five to six during July and August.
Mr. H. Backhouse, for Battersby's, said that since 1956 traffic had decreased, but they did not want a new vehicle, only permission ta use an extra one on the existing licence.
The proprietor of the Trebarwith Hotel, Mr. D. Turner, stated that he ran inclusive holidays whereby customers paid a given sum and all amenities for the week were provided. He then made" block bookings with coach operators and theatres.
Some 80 per cent. of the people patronizing these holidays were elderly and many of them infirm, Battersby Coaches took the visitors on trips, and had their garage situated 250 yards from the hotel.
In bad weather it was inconvenient for old people to walk this distance and there had been many requests by passengers to be picked up at the hotel.
Mr. J. Booth, objecting for Morecambe Motors (Silver Grey), Ltd., asked why passengers did not use Silver Grey vehicles, as their garage was only 70 yards from the hotel. At the moment they only operated eight coaches, but they were allowed to run 14. If traffic increased they would be willing to buy, more vehicles to cope with it.
Mr. W. Marshall. proprietor of the Wichfield Hotel, replying to Mr. Booth, said that although he catered for private guests in addition to those booked for inclusive holidays, he did not think that the picking up of these passengers would cause ill-feeling.
Mr. F. D. Walker, objecting for Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., submitted that picking up on the doorsteps of hotels was a new thing in Morecambe, but if a substantial flow of traffic could be guaranteed it was not an -unreasonable request.
This application need not be regarded as exclusive to Battersby's, he said, rand Ribble themselves would be interested in similar facilities.
Mr. Backhouse said that the Battersby concern had shown themselves to be go-ahead and fit to be trusted with an extra vehicle. There was no question of traffic being abstracted from other operators if the application were granted.
The chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, said that there was no justification for the application to be granted.
DRIVING MIRROR FINES
" THIS type of offence is becoming
very prevalent and it would help if some publicity were given to it," said Inspector E. A. Baker, at the Kidderminster Magistrates' Court last week, when the Bench dealt with two cases in which van drivers were summoned for not having two driving mirrors on their, vehicles.
Fines of £1 each were imposed on Albert Whitehouse, Tipton, and Frank Trevor Cooke, Kidderminster.
LAST TROLLEYBUS
MEW and revised services will be 1 11 brought into effect in Hastings and Bexhill on June 1 when the last of the Hastings Tramway Company trolleybuses is replaced by Leyland Atlanteans operated by Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd.