AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

"Rural Services Cause Concern"—Mr. Curtis

8th November 1957, Page 105
8th November 1957
Page 105
Page 105, 8th November 1957 — "Rural Services Cause Concern"—Mr. Curtis
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords :

DECAUSE of the widespread decline in

the number of people using public transport, the question of rural services was causing concern to all bus companies, Mr_ A. G. Curtis, chairman of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, said last week.

"The Commissioners control bus services in their area as a whole to see that the public get the best possible service." he told the annual meeting Of the Northamptonshire Association of Parish Councils. "This involves seeing that as many unprofitable services as possible are kept on and, as a result, buses run many thousands of miles each year at a loss. But there is a limit."

Another speaker, Mr. J. T. E. Robinson, general manager of the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., told delegates that his company's fleet of 500 buses earned £1,300.000 a year. Since 1955 costs had risen by £417.000, and fare increases were bringing in only an extra £320.000.

It now cost' four times as much to drive a bus one mile, in terms of wages, as it did before the war, whilst the price of fuel had gone up 250 per cent. Cleaning costs were 300 per cent, higher, and maintenance was up by 400 per cent.. yet fares. on an average, had only doubled since the war.

DEMOLITION THREAT TO BUS OPERATOR'S DEPOT

I F 16 houses adjoining the Penrith depot of Hartness' .Bus and Coach Services were demolished, the garage and waitingroom might collapse. This was claimed by the proprietor. Mr. E. Hartness. when he objected to Penrith Urban District Council's demolition scheme et a Ministry of Housing inquiry in the town last week.

He explained that the walls of the houses were built into his garage. He pulled down 18 old houses to build the depot in 1944, and there was no indication at that time that the other old property was to be demolished. He had submitted plans for the conversion of some of the houses into stores and offices, and was prepared to demolish the others at his own expense.

His application for changing the use of the houses was limited to a period of five years because by that time he would probably have formed a limited company, or have sold his business altogether.

Mr. R. C. Johnstone. an architect, agreed with Mr. Hartness that demolition of some of the property would endanger the waiting-room and probably the garage itself.

For the council, Mr. C. H. Huntley said the clearance order was made in July. Their surveyor thought the demolition could leave sopport for the walls of the garage and waiting-room, although some buttressing would be needed.

The inquiry was closed, and the Minister's decision will be given later.


comments powered by Disqus