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BRIEF ITEMS OF NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS

27th October 1931, Page 103
27th October 1931
Page 103
Page 103, 27th October 1931 — BRIEF ITEMS OF NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Parliamentary Candidates and M.H.C.S.A.

A LETTER has been sent by the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., to every candidate for the general election, complaining that the present system of appeal to the Minister of Transport against decisions of the Traffic Commissioners is unfair, because the Minister himself appoints and directs the Commissioners. The letter asks candidates if they intend to support the promotion of legislation to remedy this objection.

Within two or three days a large number of replies has been received; about 60 per cent, of them contain • promises of suppert, the balance being mostly to the effect that the national emergency is the only important matter for the present. When the election results are known, it is probable that a fairly accurate estimate may be made of the support which the association has in the new Parliament.

The Roadways Federation, Ltd.

IT will have been noticed that Mr. H. H. Lawrie, secretary of the Roadways Federation, Ltd., 39, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, is not a candidate at the general election. The decision was come to so that Mr. LaWrie'e attention to the formation of the Federation would not be interfered with by electioneering work in a constituency. If the election results in a strong Government being returned, the intention is that Mr_ Lawrie shall stand at one of the first by-elections.

Wakefield Asks for Local Regulations.

THE watch committee of Wakefield Corporation.. has lodged with the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners suggested conditions for the regulation of public service vehicles in the city.

Blackpool-Preston Licence Refusal.

ACTIVE objection has been taken locally to the refusal by the NorthWestern Traffic Commissioners to grant a stage-carriage licence to Scout Motors, Ltd., which concern works a 20-minute service between Blackpool and Preston; a petition has been forwarded to the Ministry of Transport Protesting against the decision.

Northern Scotland Position Satisfactory.

IT appears that the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners are, generally speaking, satisfied with coach and bns operators in their area. Their chairman, Sir John Maxwell, recently stated that nearly 1,600 road service licences have been granted, and against them only four appeals have been lodged. Out of the total of applications only CO refusals have been made.

London's Race-meeting Traffic.

THE problem of coach services to

dog-racing and similar meetings in and near London continues to give rise to contentious argument before the Metropolitan Commissioner. For the L.G.O. Co., Ltd., a few days ago it was claimed that, even if it were true that existing facilities were inadequate, it was not a question for the Commissioner; also that the coach would not offer a solution; because it took about

half the number of passengers that the bus would carry, In respect of a certain applicant the fact that 10,000 persons had been carried by his coaches was put forward as evidence of need for the service, but the Commissioner said that that did not follow. People would get into any vehicle which was bound for their destination and, in his opinion, this did not show that regular services were inadequate: Many such cases have been heard and evidence taken from racetrack organizers, and a sort of general ruling is expected.

L.G.O.C. Front-entrance Doubledeckers.

MISUNDERS'rANDING has been caused by statements which have appeared in the Press regarding L.G.O.C. experiments with doublesaloon buses having front stairways and front entrances equipped with doors. Actually the only vehicle of the kind which the London General Omnibus Go., Ltd., or any of its subsidiaries has at present is the front-entrance doubledecker used by Green Line Coaches, Ltd. This type was described in our issue dated September 29th. It has been thought that it might be possible to construct such a vehicle for experimental L.G.O.C. service, but that is as far as mafters have developed up to the present.

Appeals Refused.

THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT has rejected an appeal by London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., against the refusal of the Traffic Commissioners to licence a group of excursions and tours. The Ministry has also rejected the appeal of Premier Coaches and Garage, Ltd., of Balham, regarding an expresscoach service between London and Sheffield, and has declined the request of Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., that the matter be reconsidered. The refusal puts a sudden end to the company's activities.

Conditions of Carlisle Bus Licences.

IN granting the Ribble company's applications for licences for bus services in Carlisle, according to the new scheme of co-ordination, the Northern Commissioners have obtained an undertaking that the fares will be revised on the basis of the Commissioners declared policy, and this is to be completed by November 16th. Return tickets, for example, must be available for six months. Only in " peak-load " hours may standing passengers be carried, their number being limited to five persons in any vehicle.

Local Labour Party's Complaint.

AT a meeting of the watch committee of Watford Corporation a letter has been read from the local Labour party complaining generally of the bus services in the district, and alleging that disorganization is caused by bus proprietors poaching on one another's running times. Attention is also drawn to the condition, both mechanical and as regards interior appointments, of the vehicles operating on certain routes, also to alleged overcrowding. The committee bee asked the town clerk to forward the letter to the Traffic Commissioners. Premier Line Windsor-Aylesbury • Service.

AFTER dismissal of appeals by

Premier Line, Ltd., against refusals of licencec for the Windsor-Aylesbury service, the Amersham and district Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., which had objected at the hearings on the grounds that the service was unnecessary, increased its frequency of operation on its own existing Aylesbury-Chesham service, there being also an "A." and "D." service between Chesham and Windsor. The company also applied tothe Southern and East Midland Commissioners for licences for the direct Windsor-Aylesbury route. These applications have both been heard, but decisions are not announced. •

In the meantime, Premier Line, Ltd., has put in fresh applications, and that before the Southern Commissioners has already been heard, whilst the East Midland Commissioners have not yet fixed a date for the hearing.

Gerrards Cross Supports Premier Line.

A FEW days ago Gerrards Cross

Parish Council decided to support the Premier Line, Ltd., in its efforts to obtain a road-service licence for the Windsor-Aylesbury route, this decision arising out of a letter from Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council inviting co-operation to support the company's fresh application. It was decided that the clerk should write to the Traffic Commissioners expressing the hope that an adequate service would be given between the important centres of 1Vindsor and Aylesbury.

Newcastle Tramway Abandonment.

THE

' Newcastle transport and elec tricity committee is to recommend the corporation to substitute buses for tramcars in Osborne Road. It is also recommended that ten buses be bought at a cost of £13,000.

Bus Station for Carlisle.

THE erection of a 05,000 motorbus.station at Carlisle will shortly be put in hand, followingthe final approval given by the Northern Area Traffic . Commissioners to the Ribble concerns scheme for the co-ordination of road ser-• vices in the city. .

Blue Belle's London-Weymouth Application Withdrawn.

THE watch committee of Weymouth Corporation, which entered objection to an application by Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., to operate a service between Lou-' don and Weymouth, has since received intimation that in view of the large number of objectors, also bearing in mind the fact that the company was unable to operate the service this year owing to the transitory provisions, it has been decided to withdraw the application.

• Plymouth's Co-ordination Scheme.

AT a recent transport-committee meeting of Plymouth Corporation reports were presented with reference to negotiations with the Traffic Commissioners regarding a co-ordinating arrangement with outside transport organizations; the matter is still under consideration.