Battle to Beat Lakeland Bus Ban
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APROPOSAL by the British Transport Commission to close the 99-year-old single-track railway which served five small stations between Coniston . and Foxfield, in the heart of the Lake District, precipitated an Order by Lancashire County Council barring public service. and heavy goods vehicles from the A593 road between Broughton-in-Furness and Torver.
This was stated at .a joint public inquiry which opened at Ulverston, on Tuesday, into the Order and into an application by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., to provide a new stage service in place of rail, passing through the restricted area.
Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon acted as Ministry inspector and as chairman of the Northern Traffic Commissioners.
Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., Harkness's Bus and Coach Services, Blair and Palmer, Ltd., British Railways, Amalgamated Horse and Motor Owners' Association and the Northern Road Transport Owners' Association objected to the Order. Lancashire County Council, Ulverston Rural District Council, Coniston Parish Council and the Lake District Planning Board objected to the proposed bus service.
Mr. I. H. Dean, deputy county surveyor, said detailed proposals for the restriction of a number of roads in the Furness area, including that from Broughton to Torver, were made before the plan to close the railway. The area was considered totally unsuitable for buses and other heavy vehicles, the accident rate over the past three years was above the average for rural roads.
The Broughton-Torver road was narrow and tortuous, with a carriageway width in many .places of 10-12 ft. If a vehicle met a coach or bus in some parts it might be necessary to reverse up to 200 yd. round blind bends and over hill crests. Heavy expenditure in improving the road was not justified.
Questioned by Mr. F. D. Walker, for Ribble, Mr. Dean said that, even if the railway were closed, the council would still wish the Order to be enforced.
Mr. Walker submitted that Ribble ran many services on similar toads in the Lakeland area, and so far as they knew there were no similar restrictions on any other Class I road in Lancashire. The vital need of the community must be balanced against sonic slight risk. It appeared that the county council were trying to compel the railways to keep open a branch line which was losing £17,000 a year.
It was stated that Blair and Palmer had operated 40 contract-carriage journeys over the route in 1957 without embarrassment. The road had been used by private-hire operators for 15 years.
Mr. Dean replied that the county council suggested an alternative route via A595 and A5092 from Broughton to Lowick. and thence to Torver, via A5084, which was seine seven miles longer than the direct route, but much more suitable for wider vehicles.
The hearing continued on Wednesday.