Wales:isplinter'fails
Page 18
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A BID for a further stage-carriage service in Cardiff by independent CK Coaches (Cardiff) Ltd, faced by strong opposition from Cardiff City Transport and South Glamorgan County Council, has been turned down by the South Wales Traffic Commissioners.
CK Coaches had applied for a half-hourly service between the city centre and Ely. For the company, Roger Craddick said that besides establishing an east/ west link, it was proposed to provide, for the first time, a facility to link the two parts of the Ely district.
The fares would be of 10p 15p, 20p, and 30p maximum, all well below Cardiff City equvalents, while a through ticket of 50p would link one terminus to another.
Mr Craddick said it was 12 months since CK Coaches had broken Cardiff City's monolopy and despite the council's attempts to shut it out, the company was still operating three services. It had proved to be an extremely viable operation and few complaints had been received.
The public benefited in three ways, he said. There was an alternative to the Cardiff City services, fares were cheaper and CK used conductors on its services.
Keith Prowse, Cardiff's traffic superintendent, said Ely was already adequately served with nine services, eight operated by his undertaking and one by National Welsh. There was ample capacity at all times and no complaints had been received.
Competition by CK on other routes had failed to generate additional passengers and abstraction from Cardiff City's services was clearly taking place, he said. Previously profitable routes were being turned into loss makers. The latest estimate of revenue losses, as a result of CK's operations in the current year, were in the region of £105,000 to £110,000.
For the county council, Stuart Bailey said CK's proposals were contrary to the county public transport plans for the area and would lead to an unco-ordinated network in the city. Ely residents already enjoyed 23 services at peak hours. Refusing the application, Commisioners' chairman Ronald Jackson said there had been a flood of letters and representations in support of CK's previous proposals. However, this time there had been one letter in support and one letter against the proposals.
The Commissioners had carefully considered the interest of the public and they could not ignore the evidence of adequate existing facilities.
CK is not appealing against the decision, but will submit a fresh application for another service.