Ribble and Council May Come to Terms
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THE battle between Ribble Motor Services. Ltd.. and Carlisle Corporation over services provided by Ribble on Carlisle's Harraby Estate. looks like ending in a draw with the two sides coming to terms. The issue began last August, when the Northern Traffic Commissioners put forward a proposal to vary the Harraby routes.
This followed representations by Carlisle Corporation, who suggested that there should be a circular route on roads specially built for heavy traffic. In October, the company agreed to test the idea for three months, although it would mean cutting the frequency of the service from 15 min. to 30 min.
They reported back to the Commissioners at the end of January. claiming that the experiment had been a failure. Fourteen per cent, of the original traffic into the estate and 121 per cent. out of it had been lost, they pointed out, and there had been 178 complaints, and no compliments.
Last week the Commissioners were preparing for another episode in the dispute when Mr. F. D. Walker, for Ribble, announced that "certain discussions" had taken place which might lead to a solution. Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, chairman, adjourned the hearing for an examination of the estate and a few hours later it was stated that the corporation, the company and the Commissioners had discussed proposals which might be acceptable to both parties. When they have been studied details would be announced, and until then the experimental circular route would continue to be operated.
SECOND MIRROR URGED FOR DOUBLE-DECKERS
BUS operators in the Greenock area are being asked by the Transport and General Workers Union to fit an extra mirror on the lower .deck of their doubledeckers. This follows several prosecutions locally where conductors have been accused of failing to allow passengers suitable time to board and alight.
The Union claim that it is difficult for employees to see the rear platform properly when they are halfway down the bus. Conductors also cannot easily get to the platform at every stop in crowded conditions, they say, so in such circumstances a platform mirror would be an additional safeguard.
B.M.C. IN RHODESIA
A NEW British Motor Corporation rAfactory at Umtali, Rhodesia, should be producing finished vehicles by the middle of next year, it was announced last week. Building operations will begin in May on a large site now being developed as an industrial area in the town.
With a floor area of 150,000 sq. ft., the factory will be similar to the Corporation's assembly plant at Blackheath, near Cape Town.
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