Further Go-ordinatio • n of Express Services TH E co-ordination of all
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the main express bus services from East Lancashire to Blackpool and the Fylde coast was carried a stage further at Manchester, last week, when the joint operators applied to the North Western Traffic Commissioners for a new licence between Hythe and Cleveleys.
There were objections from A. Mayne and Son, Ltd.; F. Caven, Ltd.; Sheldon and Co.; Warburton Bros. (Bury), Ltd.; E. Shipley and Sons; and the railways.
Mr. F. D. Walker represented the joint operators—Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.; Yclloway Motor Services, Ltd.; Lam cashire United Transport, Ltd.; the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd.; and W. C. Standerwick, Ltd. He said the new application was by way of premature renewal of the existing licence.
Prior to 1956, he explained, there were many different express services to the area concerned, but about that date a pool was formed to co-ordinate those from Bacup, Todmorden, Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester.
The present proposals were solely to save mileage and the case was based not on public need, but on economy. They hoped to satisfy objectors that there
would be no greater competition. There would be a slight reduction in the period of operation, a diversion of duplicate vehicles by a shorter route, picking-up restrictions at-Dukinfield and Ashton for Blackpool would be deleted, and picking-up points at Oldham and Bury, already available on other Blackpool licences, would be introduced.
A proposal to introduce return bookings from Blackpool on the GlossopBlackpool licence would be withdrawn to meet the objections of A. Mayne and Son, Ltd.
Mr. J. Booth, for the Bury excursion operators, claimed that the application was merely a device to introduce an additional timing at Bury at 9.40 a.m., 20 minutes in advance of the present service and in direct competition with excurSions leaving at 9.30 a.m.
Mr. Walker pointed out that it was the intention to pick-up at Bury only if there were vacant seats on the Hythe-Blackpool service, possibly saving a duplicate. It could not be offered as a facility as it would not always be there. There was no evidence that it could damage other operators.
Decision was reserved.