PROGRESSIVE SPIRIT
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Marks Stockport Undertaking
BY ASHLEY TAYLOR ALTHOUGH Stockport's new ALTHOUGH transport manager, Mr. Harold Eaton, did not take up his appointment until June 11, he is no stranger to that borough's particular problems as he was traffic superintendent there for a period of six years before going to Accrington, where he had been general manager for 13 years. However, the past decade has been a time of change and Mr. Eaton is having a good look at local affairs before deciding on his priorities.
Among other things there is a plan, at present on the drawing board, which will provide a new bus station, offices and garage near to the town centre. When this proposal is implemented, one of the two central depots which have stood on opposite sides of Mersey Square for more than half a century will become available for redevelopment. This is the building which at present accommodates the main administration; the second depot is likely to remain in use.
The fact that there are so many municipal undertakings operating in and around Manchester has from time to time inspired the idea that a joint transport board for South-East
Lancashire would have merits. This opinion is still held by many people but it is not certain, if a scheme will ever come to fruition. The opposite view is held by some who consider that local control, where the administration is within the immediate district, is better than anything that could be expected from some remote headquarters. Stockport town council favour further co-ordination of road passenger transport services in the wider area.
Manchester of the 19th century inconsiderately grew around the nortn side of Stockport, but the latter town, which lies partly in Lancashire and partly in Cheshire,' has continued to uphold its ancient dignity. This the local people feel well entitled to do, as their borough received its first charter in 1220, more than 80 years before Manchester attained the same honour.
Apart from being hedged in on the north., the A6 highway bisects Stockport, leaving the town centre immediately on its east side , For long, Years the 'presence of this busy artery has constituted a, problem for 'bus operators in the area. Journeys have of necessity been planned to avoid, or.to travel with, the traffic flow so that in reality the .A6 is the master factor in the local transport. Pattern. At the present time la new east west _road . is under construction and this thoroughfare will pass under the London road and .avoid the centre of the town.. , Operating on two levels is just part of the Stockport image. Buses already dive under the A6, arid in another part of the town one busy street. is crossed by a bridge carrying a street some
25 ft. higher. The commercial and social life of the town is closely linked with the neighbouring authorities and Stockport Corporation Transport has inter-running arrangements with Manchester Corporation, Ashton-underLyne Corporation, the Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Transport Boards, and the North Western Road Car Co. Ltd.
Around the turn of the century, Stockport Corporation took over the local transport responsibilities from the horse bus operators of those days and progressively turned thesystem over to electric tramways, providing a useful loading for the corporation electricity undertaking. The last of the horses went off the road in July, 1905, and as early as 1912 the department was employing trolley buses. These vehicles drew power from a single pair of ,wires and when two of them met, travelling in opposite directions, it was necessary for them to exchange collector carriages. This type of vehick was abandoned in 1919, at which time the foundation of the motorbus fleet was laid with a purchase of a small, solidtyred A.E.C. single-decker. A Vulcan bus with pneumatics made its appearance in the town in 1925. Six years later arrangements were made to purchase -some Leyland Tigers, this contract providing the last of the petrol-engined chassis: All this time the trams were continuing in operation, finally being abandoned in 1951.
The county borough, the population of which is around 142,000, is at present served by 159 vehicles. Leyland with 88 (including four single-deckers) is the predominant make. There are still 63 Crossley chassis, these vehicles having been made locally; the
remainder are Guys. Since 1951, a vital period for bus transport, the number of passengers has steadily fallen and in consequence the fleet has been reduced. At the present time, the peak period requirements demand the use of 152 buses, the total falling as low as 53 in the off-peak hours. Thus, it will be seen that in round figures a fleet of 100 has to be employed solely to meet the high pressure times.
Other Problems
Among other problems for Mr. Eaton are staff shortages and competition for labour. His principal subject for study at the present time, however, is the already mentioned drop in the number of passengers carried. A total of 54,503,000 passengers in 1954-5 fell to 43,125,507 in 1963-4. The bus miles run in 1963-4 . amounted tc 4,834,166. Better conditions for both passengers and staff are likely to be achieved when the new bus station, which will adjoin the present North Western bus stand, comes into operation, and it is hoped that its use will strengthen the appeal of the services
Altogether, the undertaking will shortly present a vastly differenl picture from that of 1945-51 when Mr Eaton was traffic superintendent in the town. The replacement of the tramways had just been completed wher he left to become general manager al Accrington, where the 40,000 population is served by a-fleet of 57. Only last year Mr. Eaton was responsible for the opening of a new central bu station for that town. Altogether, he has had some 40 years in the transporl industry and in 1962-3 was chairman of the north western section of the Institute of Transport.