Great Scope for Co-operation Between Road and Air

3rd May 1957, Page 74

3rd May 1957

Page 74

Page 74, 3rd May 1957 — Great Scope for Co-operation Between Road and Air

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

WHEN Wallace Arnold Tours. Ltd., re Leeds, made a backing application to the North Western Traffic Commissioners at Manchester, last week, for an express service between Leeds and Ringway airport, Manchester, Mr. F. A. Stockdalc, for the company, said that it was in the national interest that everything possible should be done to make the country's air services second to none.. The primary application in the Yorkshire area was reported in The Commercial Motor on March 29.

Mr. Stockdale said that the service was experimental and intended to link West Riding to the only international airport in the north. The primary application had been granted to expire on November 30: this meant that there would be seven months of operation. A picking-up point was required at Stockport.

Mr. F. Williamson. chairman, read a letter from Manchester Airport Committee which said that from 1947-56 the number of passengers handled at Ringway had risen from 33,915 to 391,446, and the tonnage of goods from 164 to 8,695. Mr. D. E. Manning, traffic superintendent for England and Wales of British European Airways, stated that there was a great opportunity for more co-operation between road and air services. The big potential of air services could benefit everybody.

For the objectors-the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd„ Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., Mr. W. Btackhurst said that the evidence of need produced was entirely abstract. A new pattern would be set if cases could be proved by theory. Stockport was in the heart of the area of the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., and if a need for a service from there to the airport were proved, it should he met by them.

Mr. T. B. Atkinson, for the railways, submitted that a grant could create a precedent leading to the further development of the service. This could prove a great danger, and 12,000 passengers could be abstracted from existing Services.. Mr. Stackdale replied that witnesses were not the only means for proving need for an entirely new service. Theoretical considerations must be taken into account. Air services must not be made to fit into the pattern of the past. Existing transport suppliers had a fundamentally wrong conception of air travel, Mr. Williamson said that the application would be granted, but empty vehicles should not be brought from Yorkshire for the Stockport-Ringway service.

The railways, he added, would do well to consider interavailable tickets between themsetves, B.E.A. and Wallace Arnold, PARKING FEES UP IN MANCHESTER?

1__IIGHER costs, and he closing of 1 I some parks for redevelopment, are given by Manchester Highways Committee as the reasons for their proposals to the city council to increase charges on the municipal car parks on June 1.

Charges for coaches and heavy goods vehicles will rise from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. for four hours, the full-day rate advancing from 25. 6d. to 3s. 6d. Trailers will cost Is. 6d.-against Is. at present for four hours, and 2s. (Is. 6d.) for a full day.

Vans of up to 10-cwt. capacity will be charged 6d, for two hours (compared with 3d. now). 9d. for four hours. (6d.), Is, 3d, for a full day (Is.), and 6s. 3d. for a week (5s.).

Quarterly and annual rates for small vans are also to be increased. For a quarter, the charge will be £3 2s. 6d. (12 10s.), and for a year, £112 Ws. (£10).

In most cases, it is the first advance in prices for 10 years,