TRANSPORT Secretary David Howell has instructed London Transport to agree
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to the operation of bus services by two private operators within Greater London.
LT had refused to allow South London based Woodside Coaches to operate a commuter service between New Addington and Croydon in Surrey and Frank Harris Coaches of Grays, Essex to operate to West Ham home football matches for residents of the London borough of Havering.
Woodside Coaches had applied to LT for agreement to run seven evening and morning departures for pre-booked passengers at a 50p flat fare. It proposed five pick-up points in each direction and planned to use 45seat coaches on the service. The service would be in direct competition with several LT routes.
A local inquiry to consider the appeal was held in August, and inspector Anthony Robertson concluded that the proposed service would not offer anything fundamentally different and would have an adverse effect on the revenue of London Transport's Wandle District. He recommended that the appeal should be allowed.
Mr Howell decided that the needs of London would be best served by allowing the competing service the opportunity of being tested by the market.