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Southampton City Transport has joined those converting used psv for new uses
Page 81
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TRADITIONAL demand for second-hand buses by fairground equipment owners is these days joined by a wider cross-section of operators. Specialist converters are showing great ingenuity in providing specialised mobile facilities starting from an orthodox double-decker.
Such vehicles would be both beyond the reach of many buyers if new chassis were used and completely uneconomic to support.
At a recent annual rally of the National Playbus Association held in Bristol, over 30 former psv demonstrated the work of commercial converters and show what can be done by volunteers when assisted by the Manpower Services Commission, Job Creation Schemes and similar government organisations. United Services Garages, A Wincanton Transport subsidiary, of Portsmouth, in particular has undertaken a number of conversions to clients' specifications.
Perhaps the most significant recent development has been the decision taken by Southampton City Transport. Encouraged by demand, the planning department has started a new enterpise and the first conversion of one of its former buses to a client's specification has been completed.
An ex-Cardiff Corporation Daimler Fleetline bought by Cardiff Round Table and handed over to South Glamorgan Playbus Association was converted by volunteers in the local Car-Ops workshops. CarOps is a commercial undertaking which provides comprehensive garage equipment and covered garages for users to do their own work under supervision and advice.
Although the title, the National Playbus Association, suggests that the organisation is restricted to vehicles used for the entertainment and education of young children, membership includes many other similar bodies such as Greater Manchester County's Impact, which uses an adapted bus to promote its environmental improvement campaign, and World Education, which has an ex-London Country Daimler Fleetline for Third World studies. For what is believed to be the first time a county fire authority attended the conference to learn about the potential of a time-expired bus with a view to using one for fire prevention education among ethnic minorities.
• by Gordon Reed