Removal of Protection Contested
Page 39
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N attempt to remove what was rik. described as a protective clause on the operation of excursions betweeri Abergele and Llandudno, a vital route of Crosville Motor -Services, Ltd., was stronglyopposed by the company, before the North Western Traffic Commissioners, at Llandudno, last week.
Messrs. E. H. and E. A. Phillips, trading as E. H. Phillips and Son, Bagillt, Flintshire, 'sought variations of their excursions and tours licence from Abergele. British Railways and Rhyl United Coachw,ays, Ltd., also objected to the proposed modifications.
Mr. E. A. Whitehead, for the applicants, said that the original variations had been modified. Of 13 additional tours sought, Chester Zoo was withdrawn, and only New Brighton and Southport Flower Show were opposed by Rhyl United. The application to run two vehicles daily instead of one to Llandudno was watered down to not more than six in any one week or two in any one day. Fare concessions for pensioners, and additional picking up points at St. Asaph, were withdrawn.
Points on the licence were mainly holiday camps in the Kinmel Bay, Towyn and Abergele areas, said Mr. E. A. Phillips, a partner. Because the camp proprietors would not organize bookings properly, tours to Llandudno were often overbooked and constant refusals were unfair to the public. The proposed variation would give greater flexibility: Additional tours were sought to give greater variety to holidaymakers.
Questioned by Mr. I. Edward Jones, for Crosville and British Railways, Mr. Phillips said that he had brought no figures of operation as they were seeking a reduction in actual operation.
Crosville operated a 30-minute service between Rhyl and Llandudno, with unlimited duplication, submitted Mr. Edward Jones. It was one of thei'r best paying routes and vital in subsidizing unremunerative services. If the applicants were allowed two vehicles a day they could operate on the most popular days. They would take the cream and abstract from the regular services. The restriction to one vehicle a day was protective and' should remain. No evidence of necessity for a change had been produced.
Refusing the application, Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said that the Commissioners did not accept that• it was impossible to organize a proper booking system. If such were the case any small operator could apply for similar relief. The applicant had neglected the elementary requirement to produce figures of operation. Of the two contentious tours, a case had been made out for not more than three journeys a year to Southport, but New Brighton would be refused.
INTERNATIONAL ROAD • RESEARCH
A N international meeting to discuss L—.1co-operation in scientific research into road safety will be held at the Road Research Laboratory, Langley Langley, Bucks, from July 12-15.
The meeting, to be held under the auspices of the European productivity agency of the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, will be under the chairmanship of Sir William Glanville, director of the R.R.L.