REHEARING FOR WALLACE ARNOLD
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
objectors will say these licences are
redundant and should be struck out. What is the practice in this and other traffic areas where a licence has not been operated for a number of years? It is not to strike it out:'
So the North Western Traffic Commissioners were told on Tuesday by Mr. F. Marshall, for Wallace Arnold Tours Ltd., at the start of a three-day hearing at which the company sought the renewal, with fare and route modifications, of excursions and tours licences for tours starting from Rochdale, Manchester, Preston and Bolton and not operated since 1 95 8.
Mr. Marshall said Wallace Arnold had operated the tours from 1954 until 1958, but restrictions led to uneconomical running and tour passengers were assimilated by other means.
A reappraisal of the position in 1965 led to renewal applications with modification. But following a seven-day hearing last year the Commissioners failed to agree and in accordance with Section 153 (3) of the Road Traffic Act 1960, the applications were now having to be reheard. (They are being heard by three different Commissioners with Mr. G. Newman as deputy Chairman.) Mr. Marshall said there were no rules relating to licences not being operated, otherwise Wallace Arnold would be prepared to abide by them. It was desired to operate these tours, and licences for a year would be acceptable, following which the use to which they had been put could be judged.
Five witnesses gave evidence for the objectors that the present needs of the area were already being adequately catered for, particularly the catchment area of the Wallace Arnold proposals and especially in view of the declining level of employment.
The submission for the objectors was that the licences were redundant and modifications had been asked for to make the licences viable.
The Commissioners reserved their decision.