Wind of transport change
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• The wind of change appeared to blow in diverse directions, said Mr. W. L. Russell, general manager, Dundee Corporation Transport, in his presidential address to the Municipal Passenger Transport Association, at Edinburgh on Wednesday. The Transport Act had wrested control of public transport from certain local authorities but vested control of London Transport in the GLC.
In contrast were the Redcliff-Maud Commission proposals for reorganizing local government which appeared to indicate the end of direct operation of public transport by corporations of most towns. Many of these would be taken over by the proposed Unitary Authorities which would cover larger areas. It appeared that at least three PTA areas, with slight modification, were in line with Metropolitan Authorities proposed by Maud. There would be as much justification in transferring control of PTAs to the Metropolitan Authorities as in transferring control of London Transport to the GLC.
Mr. Russell said that at the other end of the scale it was encouraging to see Section 36 of the Act being invoked by a progressive member to acquire control of services which had an affinity with his own.
The possibility of a merger of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association and the Public Road Transport Association is understood to have been discussed at the annual general meeting in Edinburgh. However, Mr. Russell, declined to make any comment. He told CM that any official statement was unlikely to be made this week.