Extended Tours to Norway Refused
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PLANS for extended tours of Norway, put forward by Jones' Coachways, Ltd., Market Drayton, were rejected by the West Midlands Traffic Commissioners, last week, on the ground that they were unrealistic. They also refused to grant a licence for an Eire tour.
Jones wanted to run a 14or 21-day tour of Norway, via Newcastle upon Tyne. and an 8or 10-day tour of Eire. They sought permission to set down passengers within a 20-mile radius of their base if return journeys were completed too late for public transport to be used. The company had previously applied for licences for tours of Spain and the Austrian Tyrol, and an eight countries tour. but they withdrew these applications.
On their behalf, Mr. J. Else said they wanted to run to Norway and Eire once a year. They could not use their own coaches because they were larger than the two countries allowed, so it was proposed to take passengers as far as Holyhead for Eire and Newcastle for Norway.
The Eire Touring Board and the West Norway Touring Company would take over after passengers hall made the crossings. Jones had had a number of requests for these tours from people in the Market Drayton area, because with existing facilities passengers sometimes had to travel to London and stay there overnight on the outward and inward journeys.
Only Worthington Motor Tours, Ltd., operated locally to Eire. The tour to Norway would be a new venture.
Mr. 1-1. Evans, traffic manager, said the fare from Market Drayton to Newcastle would be £2 10s.. and to Holyhead £1 5s. The total cost would be £38 15s. for the Norway tour and £20 for Eire.
Objecting for G. H. Austin and Sons. Ltd., and Smiths Tours (Wigan), Ltd.. Mr. H. Backhouse pointed out that the proposed tours would really be express services to Newcastle and Holyhead. Jones were not even superintending the passengers once they left this country. The Newcastle fare was absurd, and the application was merely designed to undercut other operators.
Other objectors were Salopia Saloon Coaches, Ltd., and Yeomans, Miller and Co. (Tours and Travel), Ltd.
Refusing both applications, Mr. W. P. James, chairman, said the Norway plan was unrealistic, and Worthington Motor Tours' facilities for Eire were adequate.