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Bus Chiefs' Alarm at Rural Survey Intentions

3rd April 1964, Page 60
3rd April 1964
Page 60
Page 60, 3rd April 1964 — Bus Chiefs' Alarm at Rural Survey Intentions
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

DOUBTS about the value of the latest rural transport surveys proposed by the Ministry of Transport, and fears that relaxation of licensing—which might result — could undermine established operators, were expressed last week by two bus company chairmen.

At the annual general meeting of the Trent Motor Traction Co. Ltd.. the chairman, Mr. R. J. Ellery, said he doubted whether the investigations would add much, if anything, to what was already known and he viewed with great concern the suggestion regarding relaxation of the well-tried system of licensing. Such a move, he thought. would be bound seriously to undermine the ability of both large and small operators to continue to cater for the needs of rural communities by operating reliable time-tabled services; and it might well add to their difficulties in meeting the needs of non-rural areas, too. What astonished him, said Mr. Ellery, was the lengths to which the Government would go to avoid adopting the obvious solution—removal of the fuel oil tax.

Welcoming the Buchanan Report, Mr. Ellery said that this was necessarily for the long term but the Crowther Committee's contention, that conditions must be created in which public transport could function efficiently, dealt with the short-term aspect, and was both pertinent and timely. The creation of bus lanes and tighter control of street parking would certainly help in this, and he hoped the Government and local authori

ties would take early action; passenger transport operators would be more than willing to co-operate.

Recording that competition from private transport was less marked in 1963, Mr. Ellery said the number of passengers carried was down by less than half a million compared with the previous year's fall of 1:m. and nearly 24-m. in 1961. These figures were encouraging. Over 6,000 passengers were carried on extended holiday tours in 1963, a record.

Despite the latest pay award, said the chairman, Trent would exercise economies to avoid passing this increase on.

During the year the company acquired 10 new 77-seat double-deck buses and 24 51-seat dual-purpose single-deckers at a cost of £188,000. The 1964 programme, said Mr. Ellery, comprised five 40-seat luxury touring coaches, three 49-seat private hire coaches, eight 49-seat express service coaches and 16 53-seat single-deck buses to replace the older and smaller double-deckers on stage services. These purchases would cost £170,000. while a further £225,000 would be spent on vehicles for 1965. these being 10 78-seat double-deckers, 20 dual-purpose 49/5 1seat coaches and 10 luxury coaches.

Views similar to Mr. Ellery's were expressed by Mr. W. M. Dravers, chairman of the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co. Ltd., at this company's a.g.m. He saw dangers in the latest step regarding rural transport, especially in the consideration of experiments of different possible solutions. It was likely, he said, that the local population would set its sights too high, on being invited to say what additional services it required; also he was nervous of " patchwork solutions". The present licensing system provided for the needs of an operating area as a whole and Mr. Dravers said he sincerely trusted that no attempt would be made to tamper with it. Any kind of free-for-all in the countryside, with "pirate" minibuses or " every-car-a-taxi" would inevitably weaken still further the present services run by operators who had to provide a time-tabled network.

Mr. Dravers also welcomed the Buchanan and Crowther proposals and called for special lanes for buses.

Devon General, too, is to avoid fares increases for the time being, and Mr. Dravers commented that last year's revenue had been better than expected. The profit for 1963, before taxation and depreciation, was £17,973 better than in the previous year. The company's Grey Car inclusive holiday tours had maintained their popularity, said the chairman, but to meet a growing demand for cheaper holidays a new range of Diamond Tours using rather less expensive hotels was being introduced in the spring and autumn this year, and bookings were already most encouraging.

Mr. Dravers said that, during the year, 16 front-entrance double-deckers and seven one-man single-deckers had been introduced.


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