Should Corporation Run Services?
Page 33
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AN application by Nottingham Transport Department to run bus services to a new corporation estate at Clifton came before the East Midland Licensing Authority at Nottingham, last week, and was strongly opposed by West Bridgford Urban District Council, the South Notts Bus Co., Ltd., and Barton Transport, Ltd.
A previous application heard in November was ruled out of order as it included services over a bridge and road not then under construction. The estate, which will eventually house up to 25,000 people, is at present outside the city boundary, but will be officially incorporated on April 1.
For the applicant, Mr: R. 0. F. Hickman claimed that the services to the estate should be operated by the local authority. Although, for a time, the route would run through West Bridgford, the whole service would be within the city boundary in a few years, when the new Trent, bridge was built.
Mr. Ben England, general manager of the department, said • that the Clifton residents were transferred from areas served by other municipal routes. The department had been permitted to provide services when the Aspley and Bilborough estates had been incorporated and it had equipment and staff to start the Clifton service at once.
Mr. L. W. A. White, for the two opposing company operators, did not agree that Nottingnam Corporation should necessarily itself provide transport; it should only see that facilities were provided. The companies had carried workmen to the estate since building began and increased their services as the need arose. The South Notts concern was now running 247 journeys a, week to Nottingham and 240 in the other direction. •
. The. hope that the service could be operated under a joint agreement between Nottingham Corporation and his council was expressed by Mr. A. G. Mansfield, clerk to West Bridgford Urban District Council: He referred to existing joint arrangements, and said that West Bridgford claimed the right to carry passengers who wanted to travel to and from West Bridgford only, in the same way as Nottingham claimed the right to carry its own residents.
The Authority reserved decision pending the hearing of an application by West Bridgford to extend its service to Clifton.