Corby Applications Fail After 14-day Hearing
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TN a written decision, the East Midland I Licensing Authority has refused backing applications by Birch Bros. Ltd., and United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., for new services between Corby and London, on the ground that they would abstract traffic from the railways.
Birch Bros.' proposal, which was opposed by United Counties and British Railways, would have had the effect of extending their London-Rushden stage service to Corby, via Kettering.
United Counties' application was for a new express service from Victoria Coach Station, London, to Corby, via Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden. Birch Bros. and the railways objected.
The applications were heard over• a period of 14 days between last November and June this year.
In the Licensing Authority's decision, the chairman, Mr. A. G. Curtis, states that they did not feel any useful purpose would be served by delaying their decision until after the hearings of the applications by the Metropolitan and Eastern Licensing Authorities.
Any further evidence that might be brought at those hearings was not likely to affect their views on the primary question of linking Corby and Kettering with London by a through road service. "As it was indicated during the hearings that there might be an appeal, whatever the decision of the Licensing Authority, and in view of the lengthy proceedings which have already taken place, the announcement of the East Midland decisions will afford the parties the opportunity of appealing before they become involved in the further delay and expense of presenting applications " in the other traffic areas, the decision stated.
Referring to complaints about the need for changing either to rail or to Birch Bros.' existing service, Mr. Curtis said the Licensing Authority saw no objection in principle to passengers• having to use local stage services to link up over comparatively short distances with rail or road services.
On complaints about the added expense of rail travel, he went on to say that they were of the opinion that the case merited the protection of the railways, "even when regard is had to the higher cost of rail travel."
Merits Weighed Up In view of the likelihood of appeals, the Licensing Authority felt it might be helpful if they expressed views on the relative merits of the applications.
If a road service were justified, they considered that the proper party to .provide it would be United Counties, who were the local operators of the day-to-day stage services in the district.
"Moreover . an express service would be more appropriate to meet such a demand as there is than a stagecarriage service extending for some 80 miles," he added.
On the other hand, United Counties' application would not have been acceptable because it was intended to operate largely over Birch Bros.' existing route. Had the necessary evidence of need been forthcoming to outweigh the railway considerations, they would have been more sympathetic to the suggested alternative route through Wellingborough, Olney and Newport Pagnell.