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Squeeze has hit tour bookings, operators tell Commissioners
Page 57
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E credit squeeze has had an adverse effect on this season's British tour bookings, the North Western Traffic Commissioners were told this week at the resumed hearing at Manchester of the application by Pleasureways (1955) Ltd., Oldham, seeking to vary 15 excursions and tours licenses from Manchester, Wigan, Preston, Charley, Glossop, Leigh, Blackburn, Accrington, Nelson, Ashton-under-Lyne, Rochdale, Warrington and Bolton.
The variations include extensions to the period of operation, changes in picking-up points and vehicle allowance increases (COMMERCIAL MOTOR, February 3 and 10).
Evidence was given on behalf of seven objectors by Mr. A. Bolton, director and secretary of Batty Holt Touring Services Ltd., Mr. W. Jones, manager of Florence • Motors, Mr. A. T. Berry, publicity manager of W. Robinson and Sons (Great Harwood) Ltd., Mr. D. Hall, manager of Happy Way Tours (Manchester) Ltd., and Stanley Spencer Tours (Manchester) Ltd., Mr. W. Blundell, director of Smith Tours (Wigan) Ltd., and Mr. G. Dawes licensing officer of Ribble Motor Services Ltd.
Mr. Bolton said that by April 15, Batty Hok had 1,000 fewer bookings than last. year and on no date yet were tours fully booked. The closure of cotton mills in the last few weeks was common knowledge and without being too pessimistic he anticipated unsold seats at the end of the season. Mr. Jones referred to plenty of spare capacity and vacancies on a number of dates and Mr. Berry to bookings being down for the first time.
Mr. Hall said three departures had already been cancelled because of insufficient passengers, and Mr. Blundell told of nine coach departures at Easter this year compared with 12 last year and of seat availability, saying it was going to be harder to fill coaches. Mr. Dawes said the Ribble and Kingfisher tour bookings were down.
Main concern of the objectors was the extension sought by Pleasureways from 30 pickingup points from April 1 to October 22 and to encroachment on their catchment areas. Ribble also feared abstraction from its express services.
It was since Shearings acquired alleged that control of Pleasureways last October the gap between its price range and those of the objectors had narrowed with the likelihood of abstraction.
For Pleasureways, Mr. G. P. Crow submitted that the price range increase was due to increased costs and the desire to increase the profitability of the company. The objectors had not suggested they were giving comparable facilities. The question was whether the towns were being adequately served: the evidence of a customer should not be forgotten.
The commissioners reserved their decision.