Coach-Camping Bid
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TWO companies seeking to provide lowcostcamping holidays in Europe were given a restricted grant by the Metro politan deputy Traffic Commissioner, Mr. C. J. Macdonald, last week. •
Continental Pioneer School Holidays Ltd. and Continental Pioneer Holidays Ltd., of Richmond, Surrey, applied for an excursions and tours licence to run from Twickenham to Dover (for the Continent) with tours lasting for 13 or 20 days and between April 2 and September 29. London Transport Board, British Railways Board, East Kent Road Car Co. Ltd., Southdown Motor Services Ltd. and Glenton Tours Ltd. objected. Mr. Ci. Ellenboger, for the applicants, said the organizers wished to provide Continental holidays of an educational nature for schoolchildren and youngsters. Invalid and handicapped children, for whom no similar provision now existed, would also be carried.
Mr. B. T. G. Lewis, a director of both companies, said he became interested in boys' club work at Rugby School. He had a London University law degree and was now a law student. He held a p.s.v. licence and had conducted three pilot tours to the Continent using an ex-London Transport double-deck bus, licensed as a private car. Some of the passengers were recruited by Press advertising in The Times. No fares had been charged and expenses were pooled.
Mr. Macdonald suggested that the . methods used were illegal, and when told that only 15 of the 40 passengers were children he opined that it was unrealistic to call it a pilot experiment.
Continuing, Mr. Lewis said the companies believed the plan would be popular, with charges from £20 to £32 per passenger. It was intended to remove some seats to provide space for camping kit and. if necessary, ramps would he fitted for invalid carriages.
Mr. J. M. Bodger, assistant traffic manager, of East Kent, said his company was negotiating with Mr. Lewis for bus hire and was prepared to modify coaches in certain conditions. The company already operated Continental tours.
After representations by other objectors, Mr. Macdonald said the case had many weaknesses, but he felt the application was something new and novel and none a the objectors provided a cOmparable service. He was naturally sympathetic to some aspects, but he could not agree that the proposals for the conveyance of handicapped or invalid children were sufficiently detailed, and further specific proposals must be made.
Mr. Macdonald could not accept that it was reasonable for the age group 24 to 28 to be covered, and the grant would be restricted to-youngsters from 14 to 24, with an allowance of 15 trips next year. He warned the applicants that normal records must be kept and Press advertisements such as Lewis had inserted in ignorance of the law must be eschewed in future.