Minister . Overrules Inspector in Camp Service Appeal T WO more camp-service
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appeals have been decided by the Minister of Transport. in the case of Jones Coachways, Ltd., he has overruled the recommendation of the inspector who heard the appeal and has upheld the appellants' claim.
The other appeal (by J. T. Whittle) has been dismissed in accordance
with the inspector's suggestion.
Jones Coachways, Ltd., appealed against the West Midland Licensing Authority's refusal of a licence for an express service between Stoke Heath R.A.F. Station and London, via Stonebridge,. Weedon, Towcester and St., Albans. , They were stated to be old-established operators in the district and provided express services from the camp for week-end leave. The last application for a service to London had failed, and Servicemen going on have since then had had to " hitch-hike " to London. The railway service was unsuitable.
• The rail fare was 38s. 2d. against the 'appellants offer of 24s., and the railways provided no intermediate points. Passengers must travel through to London. • Crosvi]le Motor Services, Ltd., who objected, charged 30s. 6d., and their vehicles from Liverpool left Tern Hill at 11.5 a.m., when no one at the camp could be ready.
The Railway Executive argued that the disparity in fares was not the only consideration. The rail journey allowed the men over three hours longer at home.
Crosville submitted that they already operated on the route and their service called at intermediate points. Timing could be altered to suit the needs of the camp.
Mr. E. C. P. Lascelles, the Ministry inspector, found that the discrepancy in the rail fare was far too great, but not so in the case of Crosville. The Licensing Authority had originally taken the view that the timing of the Crosville service could and would he altered to suit the camp, and in the circumstances Mr. Lascelles recommended that the appeal be dismissed with costs.
Licence Refused .
R.A.F. camp services were also the subject of the appeal of J. T. Whittle (I. T. Whittle and Son) against the refusal of the West Midland Licensing Authority to grant them licences for services from Bridgnorth to Newcastleon-Tyne, calling at Doncaster and Darlington.
A licence had been granted in part for this service, but did not permit them to operate farther than Nottingham and Derby. Four other services were also 1 affected. One was to Plymouth and Bristol, another to Uxbridge, another to Cardiff and a fourth to Carlisle and Glasgow.
The appellants also objected to the grant of a licence to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., for a service between Bridgnorth camp and Worcester.
All the applications were opposed by the Railway Executive, and all except the Glasgow service were opposed by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Station Accessible
The railways submitted that this R.A.F. station was easily accessible. It was accepted that long distances should be covered by rail. There were existing (rail) services to all the destinations, and these services were made more accessible by the feeders to Birmingham and Worcester.
13.1V1.M.0. pointed out that they were stage-carriage operators with a stage service passing the camp, and had been granted a special licence to operate a service from the camp to Worcester to feed the trains.
The appellants replied that the camp's needs were not satisfied by existing facilities.
Recommending, that the appeal be dismissed with costs, Mr. W. Tudor Davies said that,. having regard to the availability of all transport facilities, the decisions reached were "in the best public_ interest."