'Frivolous' Objection to Eastern Rail-replacement Bus Service
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7IGOROUS criticisms of the operaV tions of United Counties Omnibus
Co. Ltd. in Bedfordshire were voiced at Cambridge last week by Mr. J. D.
Murray, on behalf of Beds County Council and other local authorities affected by the closing of the Oxford/Cambridge rail link.
He urged the Eastern Traffic Commissioners to refuse a limited-stop service between Bedford and Cambridge, to be operated jointly by United Counties and Eastern Counties Omnibus Co. Ltd. until United could run its existing services properly.
Alternatively, said Mr. Murray, if a licence were granted a condition should be imposed that the service should be suspended at any time if it could only be run at the expense of existing services.
The Commissioners, with Mr. W. R S. Ormond presiding, reserved their decision on this and an earlier application dealing with the Bedford/Bletchley "leg ".
Mr. J. C. Perks, for United Counties and Eastern Counties, said the objection
would be called frivolous if it came from a less responsible source. His appeal to the Beds Council and its allies, at a recent hearing, to consider the strength of the evidence of need in order to avoid the present bearing, had been wasted breath. The objections referred only to United Counties' share of the service; a proposal by Potton Parish Council for an additional stop at Sandy railway station was "very sensible" and would be accepted, he added.
Mr. S. H. Morris, traffic manager of United Counties, said recent Press reports of acute staff difficulties at Bedford had been exaggerated. The staff position for the Bedford/Bletchley run was difficult, but the Bedford/Cambridge service "could be operated tomorrow" without affecting existing services, he told the Traffic Commissioners.
One-man-operated single-decker buses would operate eight journeys each way daily, each company providing a bus and crews, said Mr. Morris.
Mr. A. Stollery, assistant traffic manager, Eastern Counties, said his com pany last had a full strength of crews in 1963, and present shortage was about 10 per cent. He thought a single-decker each way could adequately cover the traffic.
Mr. Murray stressed that the objection was not lightly made and it would not have been sustained if it were felt that an adequate service could be provided. His clients thought it would not and could not be provided, in view of staff problems.