Llandudno Operators Given Dispensation
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0 groups of coach operators, who applied last week to vary their licences for summer express services from East Lancashire and Yorkshire to the North Wales coast, agreed to withdraw after a two-day hearing in Blackpool (The Commercial Motor, last week).
This followed a statement by Mr. F. Williamson. chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, that it would be impossible to give an immediate decision. He suggested that both parties should be given a dispensation for 1958, so that when fresh applications were made, this year's experience could be considered. This was agreed.
The larger group comprised Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., W. C. Standerwick, Ltd., and Crosville Motor Services. Ltd. They sought variations of their licences for summer services from Skipton to Llandudno. Ribblesdale Coachways, Ltd., I. Wearden and Sons, Ltd., and Bracewells (Come), Ltd., asked for similar variations from East Lancashire to North Wales.
They opposed each others' applications, and in turn they were both opposed by the British Transport Commission. For Ribble, it was stated that they had not yet operated under the licence concerned, • but they intended to do so this year. Mr. H. Backhouse, for the Bracewell group, said they had operated from the last week in June under their licence.
"It was abundantly clear that there was a considerable body of people who, having found that they could book a return scat all the way there and back, wanted to do that," he said.
His group wanted to operate 21 coaches each week during the four peak holiday weeks of July, compared with the present limit of three, 15, 21 and 15 in the respective weeks. However, on the question of coaches they were prepared to place themselves in the Commissioners' hands. They also wanted to operate the licence from Whitsuntide. instead of the last Saturday in June, and to carry on throughout September.
"We are satisfied from last year's bookings and from the number of applications received this year for earlier weeks that, if the people have the facilities, they will stagger their holidays away from the peak period," he added.
Mr. Arthur Bolton, a Ribblesdale director, said he believed more people were willing to take their holidays out of the peak season because the resorts offered cheaper rates.