West Riding Wants £160,000 More: 2d. Single for Aberdeen
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CONTINUED operation on the present scale of charges and at the present level of costs would mean a loss of £55,325, at the end of the current financial year for West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., said Mr. N. FoxAndrews, for the -company, at a recent hearing by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority. The concern was applying for permission to advance some single fares by id., and to vary children's returns, 12-jouray and contract tickets so as to augment revenue by £160,000 a year. The application was the, third since April, 1951.
The first application was expected to bring in another £227,000 a year, but realized £225,000. The second, in November, 1951, was estimated to yield £75,000, and £70,000 was produced. As a result, the concern had been unable to make provision for reserve funds in 1950 and 1951 and had to draw on existing reserves to maintain ordinary dividends.
Between April, 1951, and December, 1952, a total, irrecoverable loss of £191,000 was incurred, said Mr. FoxAndrews. The total loss for 1953 was estimated at £170,604. The new rates proposed. would turn the loss into a profit of 1.34. per mile.
Mr. G. H. Margrave, general manager, in reply to Mr. W. A. Goss, representing 12 objectors, declared that a surplus of £10,000 was estimated for the next financial year after paying off the 1952 deficit. Decision was reserved.
Aberdeen Corporation has now received permission to introduce revised fare scales, the main effect of which will be to institute a 2d. minimum adult single fare on trams and buses, and to increase season-ticket prices by 20 per cent. When the application was heard three months ago, the undertaking was said to have an accumulated deficit of £138,424. The 1950-51 deficit of £45,155 is to be met out of the rates, a 5id. rate having been levied for the purpose.
Revised charges have been granted to West Bridgford Urban District Council and Nottingham Corporation in respect of seven jointly operated services.
A new application for higher fares, affecting 33 routes, has been lodged with the South Wales Licensing Authority by Rhondda Transport Co., Ltd. Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., has also applied for modifications concerning services.
In the West Midland Traffic Area, Messrs. Wye Valley Motors, Hereford, have proposed new fare scales for 13 routes.
Stockton and 'Bolton Corporations have applied for permission to raise the statutory maximum fare chargeable on the undertakings' services. In both cases a maximum of 2d. a mile is proposed.
Douglas (Isle of Man) Corporation is considering reducing services, cutting out some stopping places, discharging some of the staff and raising the cost of contract tickets by one-third in an effort to reduce costs. A deficit of £8,122 is expected this year.