P.M.T. Challenge R.A.F. Facility
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ADECISION of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners to grant a licence to Greatrex Motor Coaches, Ltd., Stafford, to run an express service from Newcastle-under-Lyme to an R.A.F. Maintenance Unit at Hopton, Stafford, was challenged by the Potteries Motor Traction Co., Ltd., at Birmingham last week.
They appealed on the ground that they were already, providing adequate services to the depot, and that the Greatrex application ought not to have been granted. The inspector, Sir Maurice Holmes. said that he would make an early report to the Minister of Transport.
For the appellants, Mr. H. R. Herbert said that P.M.T. were already operating four services to the depot at the time of the Greatrex application. In their decision, the Commissioners had said that they accepted that the needs of the route were already adequately met by P.M.T. Both Greatrex and the appellants were limited by their licences to carry only civilian employees at the depot to and from their work. A weekly fares schedule was operated by P.M.T., the fares being reimbursed, subject to a slight reduction, to the employees by the R.A.F. Greatrex operated a hire Coach at 1:4 15's. a day, and their passengers had sonic deduction from their wages towards the cost.
The Commissioners, Mr. Herbert said, had taken the view,, in granting thz Greatrex application, that the burden on the public purse would be lighter in the case of a contract-hire service than in that of a fare-paying service.
He submitted. that it was in the public interest in general, and the R.A.F. unit in particular, that the fare-paying service should continue. Moreover, if another operator were allowed to run a contract service it would draw off passengers from P.M.T. vehicles.
Mr. D. E. Skelding, 'for Greatrex, said that they had been operating their service before the approach was made to P.M.T., and that they were carrying a more permanent type of employee. Other things being equal, it was cheaper for the Air Ministry if these services were operated on a contract basis.