Council Loses in Terminus Dispute
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BLACKBURN Corporation recently put forward a scheme for the relief of traffic congestion on the Boulevard, an open space in front of the railway station, which for many years has served as a starting point for the whole of the local bus routes of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and most of the coeporation bus and tram services. The proposals provided for the transfer of six of the less frequent Ribble services to four stands in St. Peter Street, a short distance away.
At a 'sitting of the North-Western Licensing Authority, at Blackburn, Mr. W. E. Macve, chairman, heard objections by the Ribble company, represented by Mr. W. Blackhurst, who said that to transfer the terminal points would cause inconvenience to passengers and disrupt co-operation with the railway. A census showed that corporation buses had been parked two and three abreast for long periods over the disused tram track on one side 'of the Boulevard. He suggested the use of this area by the Ribble company as a terminal point.
The Ribble application was supported by representatives of the Railway Executive and several local authorities.
Mr. Macve, giving his decision concerning the operation • of stage and express services from the Boulevard, said that the Ribble services should remain. To overcome obvious problems he instructed the corporation to revise its method of operation to avoid any standing time on the Boulevard. The municipality and, to .a limited extent, the Ribble concern should cease immediately to use part of the Boulevard as a parking ground.
Mr. Macve had previously described Blackburn Corporation's system of running local services from the centre of the town as medieval and suggested that cross-town buses, which waited on the outskirts, would effect an improvement. He also described parking on the Boulevard as "most shocking," adding that he could not see that it was necessary for one vehicle to stay there for 8 hours 55 minutes.
Objecting to the renewal of excursion and tour licences by a number of Blackburn operators, Mr. Kenneth Goodacre, deputy town clerk, said that there should be no picking7up points in Blackburn centre, except on a site in Old Chapel Street earmarked by the corporation for the use of coach operators.
Mr. Macve agreed that it was undesirable that coaches should start from Railway Road, but it was proposed to permit it for the time being, ontondition that only two coaches were there at any, time. The Authority would agree to the cofp'bration's proposals when reasonable facilities were provided.
REGALS "DOWN UNDER"
OI-IN Western Australian Government routes, new A.E.C. Regal Mark III coaches are givi.ng an excellent, account of themselves. The first of these new services to obviate roundabout mixed travelling is from Bunbury to Collie, a 50-mile run.
The vehicles were supplied through Flower Davies and Johnson, Ltd., Perth, the Westt•rn Australian, A.E.C. distributors. They have bodies by
Boltons, Ltd., Perth. As more new vehieles beCorne available they will be employed progressively to institute additional services in the south-west.
The Regals have .9.6-litre oil engines and fluid transmission and have 8-ft.wide bodies with 30 roomy seats.