Best of bad luck
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THE BEST of British Travel (UK) operate stage carriage services (CM August 11).
The company, which trades as Shakespeare Country Bus Services, was formed by Roger Thompson, a director of Guide Friday, and Arthur Smith, a director of Smith Coaches (Shennington) specifically to operate the proposed services.
Its bid to operate a town service in Stratford and an hourly service between the Dovehouse Farm housing development, Wellsbourne and the town centre, ran into heavy opposition from Midland Red (South), David R. Grasby Coach Hire, Warwickshire County Council and Wellsbourne Parish Council. During the first two days of the hearing before the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, Midland Red estimated that the proposed Dovehouse Farm Service could take traffic worth £35,000 a year from its services. Mr Grasby felt it could cost him £1,000. Both outlined the cuts that would have to be made in existing services to meet such losses.
When the hearing continued, Jonathan Bayliss, Midland Red South's manager said the town service would cost the company a maximum of £69,000 in lost revenue. However, it was felt that brand loyalty would reduce this to between £34,500 and £48,000.
The County Council was particularly concerned about congestion in Stratford town centre, which it felt would be increased considerably by Best of British buses using street-side stopping points.
Refusing the applications, Commissioners' chairman Ronald Jackson said that if the objectors of evidence had been impressive and virtually unchallenged.
No evidence had been called by the applicants in rebuttal of the objector's cause. The commissioners found it surprising that the applicant had not been legally represented in view of the volume of opposition.