Aberdeen London application dropped till April
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• It will be April or even later before the future of a proposed low-cost Aberdeen to London coach service is known. The service would be the longest express coach service in Britain. But an application to run such a service did not get off the ground when it came up before the Scottish Traffic Commissioners in Aberdeen on Friday.
The service was proposed by 42-year-old Mr Bill Chapman, of Simpson Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. He wanted to run a service four times a week from Aberdeen on Tuesdays, Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays with return trips from London on the same days.
However, it became evident that this had not been made clear in obligatory notices published throughout the areas of the intended service. Despite two adjournments and an hour-long legal wrangle. Mr Chapman was finally forced to withdraw his application. He had offered to drop the Saturday journey in an effort to break the deadlock.
The hearing had been told that the service would undercut existing coach, rail and air services. Mr Chapman intended to use two 44-seat coaches and estimated the journey at 15 hours. The fares would be £.8 for Aberdeen-London return and £7.50 for Aberdeen-Birmingham return. British Rail, W. Alexander and Sons, Western SMT, Scottish Omnibuses and several English coach companies had objected to the application.
Mr Chapman said he had made the application after "pressure" from people who wanted a low-cost service. Mr A. B. Birnie, the Scottish Licensing Authority, said that it would be April or even later before the application could be reheard.