0-M-0 for Potteries after 10 years
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• After 10 years of negotiations an agreement for the introduction of one-man buses has been reached between the Potteries Motor Traction Company and the TGWU.
Mr. Charles O'Connor, the union's district organizer, described the conclusion of the talks as "momentous" and said that one-man bus services would be gradually introduced over the next few months.
He said that arrangement would mean that fare increases could be kept to a minimum and would lead to improvements for employees. One of the factors which led to the agreement being reached was the recent Prices and Incomes report on bus services.
Renewal delayed
• Similar to some offenders in criminal proceedings, the applicant was sorry that he had been found out, said Mr. C. R. Hodgson, North Western Licensing Authority in Manchester on Wednesday. Leo Roadways Ltd., Bury, had applied for the renewal of an A licence for one of its six vehicles and had been called to the inquiry under Section 174 of the Road Traffic Act.
Its maintenance record was such that, even after the system had been introduced, half the fleet was off the road, said Mr. Hodgson and he decided that the licence should not be renewed for three months, by way of punitive action.
Mr. F. Cook, MoT vehicle examiner, said he had inspected seven vehicles between December 14 1966 and January 4 1967 and had issued three immediate and three delayed prohibition notices. There were no apparent maintenance facilities and covered accommodation for only two vehicles. Suggestions made by him regarding a system had been adopted but when he called in February 1968 it was no longer operating.
Mr. T. L. Marsh, another examiner, said he had called at the company's premises on January 5 1968 to arrange the usual examination on licence-renewal but had received very little co-operation. After some difficulty he had arranged the inspection and had issued three immediate and one delayed GV9 between February 7 and 9. The other vehicles were not running.
The company's pit was not long enough for a six-wheeler and there was no planned maintenance. Defects on one vehicle-included a non-operative footbrake and handbrake not working on three out of four wheels.
A director of Leo Roadways, Mr. L. F. Gallagher, said it had instituted a system of maintenance last March and drivers were paid 30s extra to service their vehicles. Mr. G. H. Holder, proprietor of Transport Repairs, Bury, told the LA that he and two assistants spent 50 to 65 per cent of their time at Leo Roadways' premises working on the vehicles.