Les 'Guinea-pig' Hughes
Page 21
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LES HUGHES Transport Services has been granted a six-month licence for a circular town service in Colwyn Bay, but the North Western Traffic Commissioners have adjourned the hearing on three other North Wales services until then.
Commissioners' chairman Roy Hutchings said they wanted to see whether Hughes's muchcontested service would generate new business or abstract traffic from Crosville Motor Services routes in the area.
Last July, proposals by Hughes to operate five services in the Rhyl and Colwyn Bay areas were turned down (CM, July 27, 1982). The present proposals are for circular services in Colwyn Bay and Denbigh, a service between Pensarn Village and Prestatyn Sands and a service between Rhyl and Ysgol-y-Creuddyn. The applica tions were opposed by Crosville, Clwyd County Council, Cheshire County Council, Glyndwrr District Council, Denbigh Town Council and Wrexham Trades Council.
The objectors argued that revenue lost to Crosville as a result of Hughes's proposed operation would have a catastrophic effect on the existing network, given that the county councils were unable to increase revenue support.
Evidence was provided by Cheshire showing that crossboundary services in that county were likely to be withdrawn as a result of revenue losses in Clwyd, for Cheshire would be unable to support them alone. In its experience, independents were not enthusiastic about providing stage services.
Alan West, the county's transport officer, said private operators were unwilling to switch school contract operation to stage licences. He agreed with John Backhouse for Hughes that Cheshire was proposing to hold the licences for the schools work and obtain the benefit of fuel tax rebate rather than for it to go to the operator. He denied the plan was meeting bitter opposition.
In evidence, Mr Hughes said he was sure the proposed services would be profitable despite the fact that fare levels were considerably lower than Crosville's. He and other private operators would be prepared to operate some of the services Crosville was saying it would have to withdraw.