No Decision Yet on Blackpool Promenade Excursions
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• MO decision was reached by the North I Western Traffic Commissioners, last week, when six Morecambe excursion operators sought permission to link Blackpool excursions by operating on hire to local operators for promenade trips during the illuminations.
They were Atkinson and Co. (Dread
, nought Motors), Ltd., J. Battersby and Son, Ltd., Harrison and Sons (Morecambe), Ltd., R. H. Harrison (Moeecambe), Ltd., Florence Excursions (Morecambe), Ltd., and P. Ireland and Sons, Ltd. Mr. H. Backhouse, for the applicants, said they were asking for a picking-up and setting-down point at Red Bank Road Garage, Bispham, from where they would operate on hire to Enterprise Motors, Blackpool.
Police Withdraw Objections
Police objections had been withdrawn and they were willing to accept a condition that each company should not operate more than two vehicles on any day. After evidence from four of the applicants, the chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, said these were not the witnesses he wanted to hear. The operators who had worked the system in the last two seasons. Florence arid Ireland, were not represented and no figures had been produced of their operations, he pointed out. Decision would be reserved on the applications of the four operators present, and the other two formally adjourned until some concrete evidence and witnesses. had been produced. Decision was also adjourned on an application by.Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., to alter the Blackpool terminal point of 16 excursions during the illuminations. This would enable them to operate along the promenade on hire to W. C. Standervvick. Ltd. The case was first heard on May 23, 1957, and was adjourned until the Traffic Com
missioners had examined the whole position.
Blackpool Corporation, who opposed the Crosville application, contended then that a grant would result in a flood of similar applications from operators all over the country. The parking places of local operators would become terminal points for outside people and serious congestion would be caused. Corporation buses and trams would also lose passengers.
The Traffic Commissioners replied that the linking of incoming excursions with local operators might not be wrong, but they had to consider the potentialities. They were convinced that the grant would be followed by many applications all over the country. The situation had been changed by the new provision in the Road Traffic.Act, 1956, relating to private parties. They were anxious to assist the public, but there were wider considerations.
A decision is expected in time for the 1958 illuminations.