Witnesses support day excursion
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Twenty nine of the 3,650 total population of Knott End and Preesall in north west Lancashire travelled to Manchester last week to support an application by their local operator to run fortnightly day excursions to Manchester because they said existing facilities, particularly those involving a ferry crossing the River Wyre, were inadequate.
Birch's Motor Services Ltd. of Knott End, which had allowed its licence to lapse, was applying for a new one with the same conditions, but sought to add the 26 day-return journeys with a picking-up point in Pilling, at a 9s 6d fare.
For the applicant, Mr. J. A. Backhouse explained that Knott End was separated from Fleetwood and all existing services by the River Wyre estuary. Ferry services were unsatisfactory and the road journey took 11 hours. With more people retiring to the area, the population had increased by 960 in four years and many wished to visit friends and relatives in Manchester.
Mr. J. Stringfellow, Birch's managing director, said he had run private party and football excursions to Manchester and had had many requests for a regular service.
In answer to Mr. F. D. Walker, objecting on behalf of Ribble Motor Services Ltd. and Abbott and Sons (Blackpool) Ltd., Mr. Stringfellow said he had run youth club trips to Blackpool most Saturdays last winter but following a Ministry examiner's visit, the club had ceased hiring the coach.
He had run excursions to Manchester about every three to four weeks but always under private hire. He agreed that his wife had issued a ticket in error, for which she had been reprimanded.
Mr. 5. Crunbie, a Preesall councillor, said 75 per cent of the population were retired people. The ferry did not meet existing road services and when travelling via Blackpool, the journey took 31 hours, as against 2 hours with the proposed service. The last ferry in winter was 7 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. in summer.
Mrs. M. Hallowes said she had a caravan at Preesall and a home in Cheshire. Last month it had taken 4+ hours to Manchester via Ribble services from Garstang and six hours on return because the ferry had broken down. Mrs. D. Butterworth said she normally took a bus to Poulton and train to Manchester but this cost 19s ld return.
The sitting was adjourned.