COUNCILS BAN TUNNEL BUSES
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THE first businesa meeting of the recently formed Merseyside Coordination Committee was held at Liverpool, on September 26, to consider transport co-ordination. The following resolution was adopted:—
" Having regard to the views expressed by the chairman of the Traffic Commissioners in December, 1934, in regard (a) to the preparation of a comprehensive scheme designed to cater for local and extra-local traffic, and (b) to the results, direct and indirect, of the first year's working of the Mersey Tunnel, from both financial and traffic aspects, this committee recommends its constituent authorities to approve an investigation by the co-ordination committee of the practicability of promoting a comprehensive scheme for the co-ordination of all forms of traffic on Merseyside."
A meeting subsequently took place of the inter-borough conferences on tunnel buses. Consideration was given to the resolution passed by a special meeting of Birkenhead Town Council, the previous night, authorizing opposition to all applications for licences for bus services through the tunnel. The four municipalities concerned were recommended to oppose all such applications, by private operators.
The Liverpool representatives agreed to withhold the corporation's intended application for authority to operate buses through the tunnel.
OPERATORS OBJECT TO MUNICIPAL STATION. DESPITE objections from local coach operators, Lowestoft Corporation is to proceed with a scheme to provide a bus station at Battery Green, with the approval of the Ministry of Transport.
A number of local excursion-andtour operators appealed to the Minister of Transport, on the ground that the establishment of the station would be a hardship and an inconvenience both to them and to the public. Lowestoft Corporation replied that the new station would be used for vehicles engaged on excursions and tours into Lowestoft and local vehicles using the existing parking facilities would not be affected.
FARMERS SOLD HORSES TO TRAVEL BY BUS.
WHEN the Ministry, of Transport VV conducted an inquiry into the protests of Aled Rural District Council and two parish councils against the confirmation of an Order made by Denbigh County Council prohibiting the use of Bryn-y-Pin Pass by publicservice vehicles, it was stated that farmers had sold their horse-drawn vehicles because, when the buses were running, they found it cheaper to travel by this means. Now however, they had no transport.
The pass, which is known as the " Switzerland of Wales," was closed
because of its narrowness and because the county council considered that expenditure on widening or repairing it would not he warranted. It was stated that farmers had to walk for miles to the nearest bus 'route.
For the county council it was stated that this body would favourably consider the operation of a 14-seater bus on market and fair days to Abergele. The Aled authority pressed for the provision of a 20-seater bus.
COACH DRIVER SUCCEEDS IN SPEEDING CASE.
ASOMEWHAT unusual defence was successfully employed when a Lancashire touring-coach driver, Mr, Edward Cain, of Hollinwood, was summoned at Taunton, last Saturday, for having exceeded the speed limit. He explained that his coach • was equipped with oversize tyres, and that, in consequence, the reading of the speedometer, which was an accurate one, v■ as altered.
The police agreed that oversize tyres would have the effect described, and stated that when the defendant's coach was travelling at 30 m.p.h., according to the patrol car, his speedometer registered only 25 m.p.h.
The magistrates dismissed the summons on payment of costs.
CHARLTON'S U.A.S. NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED.
SUI3JECT to the Northern Traffic Commissioners granting the transfer of the licences, negotiations, foreshadowed in the issue of Tho Commercial Motor dated September 13, have now been completed for the acquisition of the Newcastle-London service of Chariton's Blue Safety Coaches, Ltd., Hebburn, by United Automobile Services, Ltd.
It is suggested that the London terminal point be Victoria Coach Station, instead of the Terminal Coach Station, Clapham Road. U.A.S. proposes snaking adjustments in fares.
CONDITIONS CREATE CONFUSION
LICENCE conditions that could, in the opinion of the Oldham magistrates, have been more clearly expressed, were raised, last week, when Mr. James Hartley Robinson, a coach proprietor, of Union Street, Oldham, was fined a total of ET for infringing the conditions of his licence, permitting the use of an express carriage without a road service licence, and causing it to be used.
The prosecution arose in connection with a trip operated by Mr. Robinson from Oldham to New Brighton, via Liverpool and the Mersey Tunnel, and returning via Chester. The defendant suggested that the licence specified no particular return route.
A representative of the Traffic Commissioners maintained, however, that the conditions relating to a Liverpool sight-seeing trip, which was numbered 68, would be assumed by any reasonable person to refer to the service to New Brighton, numbered 68a.
Mr. Robinson declared that he had not given instructions as to which return route should be taken, so that he could hardly be summoned for permitting " or 'causing" the use of the vehicle.
INDEPENDENTS REARRANGE SERVICES.
A LTERATIONS are to be made in the services being run by Messrs. Reed Brothers, Park Road, Blackhill,
• in conjunction with the Venture Bus Co., Woodside Garage, Hamsterley Colliery, and Messrs. Robson Brothers, High Spen, Rowlands Gill. Messrs. Robson propose, with the approval of the Traffic Commissioners, taking over the service between Consett and Chopwell, and Chopweli and Newcastle, formerly run jointly by Messrs. Reed and the Venture Co.
_ Messrs, Reed, in conjunction with the Venture Co., seek to acquire the services operated by Messrs. Robson between Consett and the Hat and Feather Inn, via Leadgate; Consett and Newcastle; Medomsley and Rowlands Gill (with modifications); Allendale Cottages an Consett; and Consett and Medomsley Colliery. •