BUS DEVELOPMENTS IN LANCASHIRE CENTRES. Some Details of the Services which are Maintained To and From Fleetwood and Knott End.
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AGOOD example of what can be done with one vehicle at the start of a bus organization, and of how a small passenger service can he developed and become quite an important factor in the transport of a district is afforded by the growth of the operations of Lawrence Motor Services, Ltd., of Fleetwood. The Service was started in November, 1925, by Mr. E. A. Lawrence, who, very shortly after entering the busservice business, decided to form a private limited company. This procedure completed, it was found essential to make an addition to the fleet, as' the first bus, a 26-seater Vulcan, was working to its utmost capacity, and the demand for transport was on the increase.,
Another vehicle of the same type could not be obtained immediately and, as the extra bus was required for the Christmas traffic of that year, a 26seater A.E.C. was purchased and put into commission on December 18th, 1925, Jost a month after the commencement of the concern's serviee.
The route from Fleetwood to Poulton, via Thornton, upon which the Service operated had not been pre
viously developed, and the new venture proved successful from its inauguration. Early in 1926 an order was placed for a Leyland Lion 30-seater, and an order for another vehicle of this type was given later the same year.
The length of the route which is operated by the company is seven miles and buses pass the Fleetwood football ground, an advantage from the point of view of attracting patronage. From Thornton the buses of the BlackPool Corporation run to Cleveleys Beach, and at Poulton connection is made with the system of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., of Preston. This company's vehicles run from Poulton to Garstang, via Eeeleston and St. Michael's and connect up with services to Lancaster and Preston.
The buses of Lawrence Motor Services, Ltd., run from Fleetwood at 40-minute intervals throughout the day, from 6.45 a.m. until 10.25 p.m., whilst the last bus from Poulton. leaves at 11 p.m.
The through single fare on the route is &I. and the return charge 9d. There are penny stages at all points on the route, whilst reduced fares for scholars, special weekly returns and monthly and
quarterly contract tickets, or seasons are available.
The maintenance of the daily service calls for two buses, but on Friday, this being the market day at Fleetwood, . all the company's vehicles are on the road. Certain buses on this day call at Little Thornton and Stannah. At the height of the summer season, by reason of the proximity -of Blackpool and the fact that Fleetwood is now becoming better known as a .holiday
resort, traffic is considerably greater than during the rest of the year. It may be mentioned that each bus in service covers 168 miles per day, and the present total distance run amounts to about 2,250 miles per week, this figure not including special runs on market day and other work that is out of the ordinary.
The company claims to be the first operator to put a pneumatic-tyred bus into service in Fleetwood and to be the earliest to run long-distance special tours to Devon and Scotland.
An up-.to-date brick-built garage with the necessary stores and offices has been erected close to the bus route. Here there is sufficient accommodation for ten buses and provision for extension should such be required later.
The only other bus service at present running in Fleetwood is maintained by Fleetwood and Knott End Motors, Ltd. This company operates two 20-seaters, one of Vulcan and the other of Guy manufacture, on a town service, the two vehicles running at 15-minute intervals. This concern also employs two Ford tanners, converted to carry 20-seater toast-rack bodies, for a promenade service, which runs from the ferry to Laidley's Walk,via the Marine Gardens, a 20-minute schedule being adhered to. Incidentally, this is increased to a 10-minute service at busy periods. The Fords are equipped with auxiliary three-speed gearboxes.
The company also operates a service to Pilling from Knott End, on the other side of the river Wyre, across which regular ferrying facilities are provided by the Fleetwood Urban District Council.
From Knott End Messrs. A. Parkinson operate buses under the title of the Knott End and District Motor Service: Two Vulcan 14-seaters are used, and at every quarter of an hour a bus leaves for Preesall and another once an hour for Stalmine, these vehicles meeting the ferry boats from Fleetwood. Messrs. Parkinson also run a service to Pilling, using an open coach on this route.
Last—and to use a somewhat timeworn cliché—but by no means least, County Motors (Lancaster), Ltd., works an hourly service from Knott End to Lancaster, via Cockerham, the single fare being is. 10d. and the return 2s. 9d., the journey occupying 11 hours. This service connects with buses for Morecambe, Skipton and Ingleton, amongst other towns. This concern employs Thornyeroft and Guy vehicles, chiefly 26 to 32-seaters.