Notts busmen see red over 'Lilacs'

24th September 1976, Page 101

24th September 1976

Page 101

Page 101, 24th September 1976 — Notts busmen see red over 'Lilacs'

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ANGRY BUSMEN last week held a mass meeting and protested to management over a plan by Nottingham City Transport to sell all 18 of its "Lilac Leopard" coaches and close one of its depots.

The men are complaining that there has been no consultation over the plan which follows the decision to withdraw the controversial "Zone, and Collar" park and ride scheme which was introduced into the city in August 1975.

Last week the Nottingham branch secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, Mr Jack Green, was meeting the national organiser, Mr Larry Smith, to discuss the situation.

The decision to sell the 18 Duple bodied Leyland Leopard coaches — christened the Lilac Leopards because of their colour — comes after a request from Nottinghamshire County Council that they should be sold or integrated into the City Transport fleet.

In a letter to CM City Transport general manager Mr Phillip Groves said that it had been hoped to keep at least 10 of the Leopards for use on private hire, but the City's transport committee had decided to sell all the buses.

Review

"There had been no decision on the closure of the depot; we will be basing the decision on a survey which was taken in July and another taken in October when the traffic patterns were different," said Mr Groves.

But he pointed out that the undertaking had temporarily taken over a set of premises and they would have to be -reviewed "within the next 18 months."

"It is possible that the fleet can be reduced, but that is up to the City to decide. There is certainly no shortage of buses and we have got an outstanding order for 12 doubledeckers which are being delivered as part of the replacement programme."

Since thq park and ride service was withdrawn on the wishes of the county council the Lilac Leopards have been engaged on private hire work and Mr Groves had hoped that they — or some of them — might be allowed to stay on that work.