Supporters club 'scores' at Manchester inquiry
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ANCHESTER United Supporters' Club rercame strong opposition from operars already licensed for football excurills when its application (CM July 16) as heard last week at a resumed hearing r a licence enabling it to hire and pervise coaches carrying supporters to vay matches.
The North Western Traffic Commismers imposed a condition that the fares arged should not exceed those already Lthorised on other licences nor be less an 90 per cent of any existing fare.
When the hearing resumed evidence is given by Mr E. H. Healey, tours ricer of Greater Manchester PTE, that it Id licences for away matches of Manester United and had carried 779 passengers in 1973/74, 1,055 in 1974/75, and 2,712 in 1975/76.
He said that the PTE had on occasion been approached by the club for private hire, but had never been asked to quote for a whole season. Up to 40 coaches could be made available for Saturday matches. The PTE was prepared to appoint Mr Smith as a booking agent and accept any conditions regarding supervision by stewards that it was necessary to impose.
It was felt necessary to attach fares if a licence was granted and not to leave this to the discretion of the club, in order to prevent cut-throat competition. Fares could, however, be lower than at present if full coaches were guaranteed. National Travel (North West) licensing officer, Mr Roger Farrell, claimed there was no need for a grant in view of his company's prior application, on which decision was reserved. The only significant difference was the question of fare as National sought to hire vehicles as a whole to the club leaving the hirer to fix passengers' contributions. After a submission from Mr C. D. Smith, chairman of the club and proprietor of Manchester United Supporters Travel Club, which would act as agents, that it was in the public interest that the club should be responsible for supervising and stewarding the coaches, the application was granted and that of National Travel refused.