Should ,Newcomer Run Long distance Coach Service?
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VV/TIETHE.R a newcomer should be VV allowed to run a long-distance service from West Cumberland to London, and whether there was a .demand for Saturday excursions and tours, were points raised at Carlisle, last week, when the appeal of Messrs. Blair and Palmer against a decision of the Northern Licensing Authority was heard before Mr. W. Tudor Davies.
The Authority had refused applications to operate a service from Whitehaven. Workington and the Cockermouth area of Cumberland via Carlisle, Pertrith and Appleby in Westmorland, to London; and to run a series of excursions and tours from Carlisle.
For Messrs. Blair and Palmer, Mr. T. H. Campbell-Wardlaw referred to West Cumberland as "a pocket of populatibn " isolated from the rest of the country by natural barriers, and said its need for a through service to London was supported by various local authorities.
'the Western S.M.T. concern had a Glasgow-London service running through Carlisle, and there was another from Preston to London operated by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. It was inconvenient for West Cumbrians to join either, however.
Whilst the increasing public demand for such services was admitted, went on Mr. Campbell-Wardlaw, existing operators showed no willingness to meet it. The Authority, agreeing that there was a problem, had suggested that it was the function of Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., or the Ribble concern to provide such services if they were justified.
Mr. Campbell-Wardlaw asked for a ruling by the Minister on the Authority's declaration that: "We shall never license a newcomer for extreme-distance services of this kind unless we are satisfied that the existing operator is unwilling, or has not the physical capacity, machines, etc., to cater for the needs of the public so far as he is allowed by the Minister."
The Scottish Licensing Authority had already granted a licence to a newcomer (Northern Roadways, Ltd.), Mr. Campbell-Wardlaw said.
For the objectors, the Railway Executive and Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., Mr. J. L. Croft pointed out that on the applicants' own estimate their proposed service during the holiday period would take away 50 per cent, of
rail traffic. Also objecting were the Western S.M.T. Co., • Ltd., and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.