News of Municipal Activities
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L.C.C. and a Big London Road-junction Scheme.
On Tuesday last the London County Council discussed the question of the abandonment of the Elephant and Castle improvement scheme. The improvements committee reported that powers were obtained in 1930 to effect street improvements at this important junction, and, on the understanding that the Government would make a grant of 75 per cent, from the Road Fund towards the cost, the council voted 11,950,000 for this purpose in May, 1931. On November 10, 1931, in view of the economic crisis, it was decided to postpone the scheme for two years, and on November 21 the Minister of Transport terminated any obligation to make a grant.
The scheme has recently been discussed with the Minister, who expressed the view that it must be indefinitely postponed. The committee, therefore, reommends the abandonment of the existing scheme, but the possibility of carrying out a modified and cheaper scheme is to be considered.
Coach Passengers Forced to Travel by Rail.
An insight into the position created by the reduction of London suburban coach services is provided by the ease of Caterham and Warlingham. The local council states that residents who previously used the Green Line service are now compelled to travel by rail to central London, and there are no bus services from Warlingham to the neighbouring railway stations.
If necessary, the council will endeavour to secure the reinstatement of the former services and the introduction of a bus service between Warlingham and Caterham Valley.
Essex to Replace Old Vehicles.
Essex county surveyor states that most of the municipal vehicles are very old and could not be run economically under the impending increased taxation.
The annual increased taxation payable on these vehicles, if the licences were renewed, would be £1,600.
The cost of converting the machines from solid to pneumatic tyres ranges from £106 to £292, but it would be more economical to continue running them on solids for a year or two, and then discard them, than to convert them. The best of the tractors could be converted to light steam rollers at a cost of £200 each, but it is not recom
mended, as highly successful advances have been made with oil-engined rollers.
The county surveyorrecommends disposing of 23 heavy solid-tyred vehicles and purchasing four new 30-cwt.-2-ton lorries at a cost of approximately £1,000, with which view the committee agrees.
New Ambulances for .L.C.C.
The central health committee of the London County Council has arranged for a large-capacity ambulance to have alternative interior equipment so that it may be used for the removal of nonrecumbent patients. Three ambulance buses are also to be provided as replacements during the current year, these to have similar equipment. Future replacements of ambulances are to be of that type.
Osira Street Lighting in Lewisham.
Lewisham Borough Council has decided in favour of installing seven miles of Osira street lighting. This uses gaseous-discharge lamps with no filament, so arranged that there are no shadows and no glare. It is claimed to give two and a half times the light for the same current consumption, each unit throwing 6,000 candle-power forward in the direction of oncoming traffic. More London Motor Licences, But Less Revenue.
The public control committee of tire London County Council reports that during 1932 there was an increase of 7,039 in the number of licences issued and a decrease of £149,710 in the amount received, as compared with the previous year's figures. It would appear that this anomaly is due to the issue, in many cases, of quarterly instead of annual licences, the increase in popularity of smaller private cars (not exceeding 16 h.p.) and the greater use of pneumatic-tyred goods and hackney vehicles, the licence duty for which was reduced 20 per cent. by the Finance Act, 1928.
During the year ended November 30, 1932, 492,178 vehicle licences were issued, bringing in £13,938,413, as compared with 482,799 and £4,087,657 respectively in the previous year. Drivers' licences were issued to 248,198 persons last year, the revenue being £61,488, whilst in 1931, 250,538 licences were granted, the figure for revenue being £61,954.
Refunds made during the year numbered 18,424 and amounted to 1165,243. The number of new vehicles registered in London duing 1932 was 36,487, 3,132 fewer than in 1931.
The Evolution of Municipal Transport.
At a meeting of the Industrial Transport Association, held in Birmingham on November 15, Mr. A. C. Baker, general manager of the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Department, gave an address on the evolution of municipal transport.
He said this was, at present, in a state of flux. Those responsible had to consider their future policy and to decide what vehicle or combination of vehicles would be most suitable for future needs. He suggested that underground transport might be necessary in the larger cities, although, at present, he could not see how it could pay its way where there was no great mid-day traffic. Many might hold the opinion that trams were obsolete, but he could not subscribe to such an idea. The only way in which they eould be replaced was by the slow process of sabstitution, as tracks needed renewal and the capital was paid off. He anticipated improved drive and body design.
Hertfordshire By-pass Schemes.
Schemes for constructing by-pass roads at St. Albans and Barnet are to receive the attention of Hertford County Council. The cost of the former is estimated at between f 60,000 and £.80,000, and for the latter up to £100,000. The Ministry of Transport will he asked to help towards the cost.
Portable Weighers to Check Overloading.
The highways committee of Worcester County Council reports that the portable wheel weighers lent by W. and T. Avery, Ltd., Birmingham, for weighing heavy motor vehicles, have been found satisfactory. These machines haae been approved by the Board of Trade.
Several tests have been carried out and three prosecutions taken for ex cessive loads. The justices accepted the weights, as given, and convicted in each case. The chief constable states. that to cover the whole county, six of these appliances will be required, the total net cost being i416, and the committee recommends their purchase.