EXPRESS SERVICE BID ADJOURNED
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Av application by P. Phillipson and Son, of Goldthorpe, to continue an express service between Thurnscoe and Sheffield, with additional picking-up and settingdown points at various other named points, was adjourned by the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners at Leeds last week. Objectors were Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co. Ltd., Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd., Rotherham Corporation Transport, Sheffield Corporation Transport and Sheffield Joint Omnibus Committee.
The objection lodged by the Sheffield JOC was challenged by Mr. H. G. Hall, for the applicants, who referred to the ground of objection as being "a financial interest in the service operated by Mexborough and Swinton". This was no ground at all on which to found an objection and was invalid, he contended.
Mr. J. Peters, for Sheffield Corporation and Sheffield JOC, asked for the objection to stand as the Sheffield JOC, Rotherham Corporation, and Mexborough and Swinton were jointly interested financially in the latter company's services between Mexborough and Sheffield.
Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr. H. E. Robson, said that if they ruled against the objection they could allow representations and following satisfactory evidence that Sheffield JOC operated near the route of Phillipson's service, representations would be allowed.
Mr. Hall said for 10 years, prior to 1964, people in the Dearne Valley had been dissatisfied with the bus service to Sheffield, which involved changes, and in June of that year Phillipson's were granted a through service, experimentally, for one year. At the hearing of that application, the objectors submitted that no case existed for such a service as traffic was thin, revenue of £.10,000 could not be reached and the service was doomed before it started.
Despite the restricted picking-up and setting-down points, the revenue for twelve months was £10,308, which showed that Phillipson's had been perfectly justified in their faith. In September 1964, there was a sudden change of face, as one of the objectors, Mexborough and Swinton, applied to run between Mexborough and Sheffield and succeeded in obtaining better facilities on a competitive part of the route. It was illogical for this position to continue, submitted Mr. Hall.
In evidence Mr. M. Phillipson, described as "overwhelming" the inquiries received for facilities between intermediate places and said the service was doing no more than paying its way.