Comfort Could Mean Loss of Service
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ADJOURNING an application before the Northern Traffic Commissioners at Newcastle upon Tyne last week, Mr. I. A. T. Hanlon, chairman, said that if a particular operator were chosen for private outings because he had a comfortable coach, in preference to the day-to-day operator, it meant running the risk of having no local bus service at all. The Commissioners had heard an
application from Mr. C. 0. Vasey, trading as Otterburn and District Coaches, to delete certain journeys and points between Catcleugh and New castle from his stage licence. The adjournment w a s made partly so that the question of a protective ban on settingdown between Newcastle and Ponteland could be reviewed.
Mr. J. L. R. Croft, for Mr. Vasey, said that it was another story of rural services that did not pay. He understood why there was opposition to the application, but Mr. Vasey could not be expected to be a public philanthropist. In the past the service had been subsidized by school contracts, but that work was now halved. The military camp in Otterbum gave no support. They ran their own transport to Newcastle, Mr. Hanlon stated that, so far as he could gather, no certificate had been issued by the Commissioners to the camp authorities and the matter would be investigated.
It was stated by Mr. Vasey that there had been one occasion only in three years when he had been asked by anyone in the areas covered by the route to do private hire work. All other such work had been done by private-hire operators.
In cross-examination. Mr. J. S. HartJackson, clerk to Bellingham Rural District Council, alleged missed and late journeys, which were denied.
Miss M. Thompson, president Cambo Women's Institute, pleaded that the service be continued. Asked by Mr. Croft whether the institute ever hired coaches for outings, Miss Thompson replied in the affirmative, but added that they used the most comfortable vehicles.