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Attempt to Merge Tour Licences Lords Press for Keenly Resisted
Page 105
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: Case Fails Higher Speed Limit OVER 25 objectors appeared before the North Western Licensing Authority, at Manchester, on Monday, in an application arising from the amalgamation between Ribblesdate Coachways, Ltd., Blackburn, and Batty-Holt Touring Services Ltd., in 1950.
Mr. A. Bolton, a director of Rilablesdale Coachways, Ltd., applied on behalf of the joint companies for a licence to run 41 extended tours from Bolton. In effect, the application was to replace the existing licences held by the companies and authorize trunk services from Bolton, with feeder services starting from Liverpool, Nelson, Clayton-leMoors, Fleetwood and Manchester, and having picking-up points en route.
Co-operation Sought
Mr. H. Backhouse, for the applicant, said that the fullest co-operation had been sought with the many objectors in order fairly to amalgamate the existing hectic:es. Of the 41 tours for which Ribblesdale sought licences five were two-day Blackpool tradesmen's holiday tours held on the Batty-Holt licence, and objections to them had been withdrawn. Of the remaining 36, 10 were one-day fantail tours.
All the routes had been drawn from the original 45, which were, at the moment separately licensed.
There were not proposed to be more than two departures for any extended tour in any week and on the fantail services, there would be only seven vehicles per day, compared with 11 at present licensed. On the southern services, it was desired to pick up passengers at Manchester and Knutsford, relinquishing the Warrington stop, and on the northern routes at Preston and Lancaster, instead of at Bolton.
Mr. Backhouse believed that this application was unique. By applying for one licence from Bolton, the companies were relinquishing six existing licences.
Powerful Objectors
Among the objectors were the Railway Executive and the principal operators in the North Western Area, including Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., and Lancashire United Transport, Ltd.
Mr. F. D. Walker and Mr. I. Booth, representing these objectors, sought to establish that the case for the proposed joint licence was not as simple as it at first appeared. They claimed that the companies would be able to run substantially more vehicles on the tours.
In cross-examination, Mr. Bolton admitted that his company had, in the past, vigorously opposed similar applications to link the whole of Lancashire.
On Tuesday, Mr. Booth, for the objectors, established in cross-examination that it would be possible to operate six additional fantail tours in the Fylde and Liverpool areas, which would offer direct competition to Robinson and Sons, Ltd.. Great Harwood.
Mr. Backhouse held that whereas under •the licence which was applied for, customers would be offered a greater. Variety of South Coast fantail tours, there would be four fewer vehicles employed on these services each iveele.. What his client songht Was a licence' to operate fewer trunk, services with the comnion departure, point at Bolton, but greater facilities for the feeder services to supply that Point.
In .refusing the application; the Authority, said that had the araalgamated licence been granted the pickingup points at.Clayton-le-idoors, Oswaldtwistle and Knutsford would_ have been excluded. It was unlikely that the overlapping extensions on the operation of vehicles would have been allowed, nor would the Authority have extended the Blackpool tradesmen's holiday tours, and the fantails in the Fylde and Liverpool areas would probably have been reduced.
The application was refused outright and the company could operate under the existing separate licences for 12 months and return with a revised application.
END OF MIDLANDS-GLASGOW COMPETITION?
AN application for a new coach service to improve the road link between Glasgow and the Midlands was made before the West Midland Licensing Authority in Birmingham on Tuesday. The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., sought to run a new service between Coventry and Manchester. The application was opposed by the Railway Executive, but an objection by Northern Roadways, Ltd., was withdrawn.
Mr. W. Blackhurst, for the applicant, said that it was hoped that this was-the last stage in the Midland Red "-Northern Roadways saga. In 1951, both companies had applied, to operate a direct service between Birmingham and Glasgow. It was then stated that • the existing link service, via Manchester, could be improved.
A summer service had been altered, and this was now allowed to operate at Christmas and at the New Year. For the rest of the year, there was only a link service taking 17-1hours and involving a three-hour wait at Manchester. It was to improve this that the application for the new daily service all the year round had been. made.
THREE HAULIERS WOUND UP iN the Chancery Division on Monday, Mr. Justice Roxburgh made orders for the compulsory winding-ma of Kenbax Roadways, Ltd., Ashcroft (Haulage), Ltd., and Woodridings Transport Co., Ltd. Petitions were presented by the Inland Revenue.
IN the House of Lords on Wednesday, Lord Lucas of Chilworth moved that the Government be asked to institute a uniform speed limit for all types of goods vehicle to enable manufacturers to produce vehicles for export at competitive prices. Lord Sandhurst, chairman of the British Road Federation, was due to support the motion.
A deputation comprising representatives of the B.R.F., Federation of British Industries, Mansion House Association on Transport, National Union of Manufacturers, Road Haulage Association, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Traders' Road Transport Association and Traders' Traffic Conference called at the Ministry of Transport last week to discuss with the Minister the abolition of the 20 m.p.h. limit He, however, had to-attend a Cabinet meeting and the deputation was received by Sir Gilmour Jenkins, permanent secretary, and Sir Cyril Birtehnell, deputy secretary. No date has yet been fixed when the deputation may meet the Minister himself.
Efforts to rationalize the speed-limit position have been maintained for the past nine years. It is contended that increased production in industry, reduced driver fatigue and greater road safety, besides the benefit to manufacturers, on which Lord Lucas based his motion, would result from a universal 30 m.p.h. limit
SAFETYMIRROR ON ELECTRICS
ANOTEWORTHY feature of the latest N.C.B. electric vehicles is a mirror which gives the. driver a view of the road immediately in front of the cab. On a few occasions, small children have been knocked down while playing in front of an electric vehicle, because they could not hear it start and the driver could not see them.
N.C.B. dairy trucks of 20-cwt. and 30-ewt.. capacity will be exhibited at the Scottish Dairy Show, Kelvin Hall, GlasgOw, from February 10-13.
OPPOSITION TO FREE TRAVEL A LARGE number of objections to PA Birmingham Transport Department's plan to provide old people with free -bus -travel has been received by the West Midland Licensing Authority from private individuals. . The department's proposals will be heard on February 3.
A meeting at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is being called to discuss opposition to the scheme.
SPEEDING FINE REFUNDED
AFINE of £2 has been refunded to Duristahie van driver after he had appealed to the Home Office on the ground that the alleged speeding offence for which it was imposed occurred when his vehicle was unladen and running on a derestricted road. A free pardon has been granted by the Secretary, of State and the endorsement on his driving licence removed.