Crosville Fights Llandudno ,Council Over Tours
Page 34
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A DISPUTE between Llandudno ri Urban District Council and_Crosville Motor Services, Ltd, (owned by the British Transport Commission) was ventilated. last Week, before the North Western Licensing Authority, at Caernarvon. It concerned an application by the council for permission to run circular tours to Little Orme.. The Crosville company said that it intended to make
a similar, application. • , Mr. D. Reuben ;Jones, for tile council, applied for permission to operate an express service for a short distance within the borouah of Conway. • The area outside the district was limited to 1,200 yds. out of a total of seven miles within the Llandudno area.
The proposectservice, said Mr. Jones, would run from Prince Edward Square, and would be essentially a pleasure trip. The council' did not wish to compete with any stage and Carriage service." It had operated a service to Great Orme for 21 years, and the 'prapOsed introduction of the one for which application was being made was in response
to public requests. • Big Increase in Traffic Mr. W. E. Dowell, the council's traffic manager, said that passengers on the Great Orme coke had increased two-and-a-half times beyond the 1939 figure. The council had no intention of introducing stages on this route. The fare, he said, would be Is 6d.
Cross-examined by Mr. W. Blackhurst, for Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., witness agreed that the town services were all operated by the Crosville organization. Visitors could cover similar route by Crosville bus at a few pence cheaper, but they would have to change buses and would not have the benefit of drivers acting as guides. A 10-minute service would be provided. Mr. D. S. Deacon (divisional general manager) said that if the application were granted, it would be injurious to Crosville services. Llandudno had a large increase in population during the season, and the revenue derived by his company from the trip helped it to maintain the stage-carriage route during the winter. The Crosville company intended to apply for permission to institute a similar service.
Mr. Blackhurst said that the trip rounTthe Great Orme could be likened to a scenic railway in a pleasure ground. The council had had matters all its own way and could not fail to make money. Now, for the first time, it was to compete with other operators, and its action was a forerunner of things to come. If 'such a service were to be operated the Crosville company should run it.
The Licensing Authority said that consent would be granted, but it must not be held that he was committing himself in any way in the granting of a road service licence to the mitten. That application would be adjourned and would be taken at, the public sitting when the proposed application of the Crosville company was held.