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Bristol Omnibus—Swindon link-up?
Page 48
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• Bristol Omnibus Company may take over the corporation run bus service in Swindon, Wilts. This possibility has emerged from talks between the council and the bus company. The company has wanted to operate the town's service for several years.
Now, it is understood, both concerns feel the time is "ripe" for such a change.
Swindon is the only town in the company's operating area which has its own bus undertaking. The Bristol company already runs the services in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Weston-super-Mare, Bath, Bristol and Stroud.
The talks between the company and the town council have been confidential but it is understood that three possibilities have emerged: that the company buys up and completely takes charge of the town's service; or runs the service jointly with the local authority—the system worked in Bristol; or operates part of the service in Swindon in conjunction with the town council operating its own buses.
Although no recommendations have yet been made by the town's transport committee, it has deferred the appointment of a traffic manager. following the death of Mr. George Ashton earlier this year.
The town has about 70 buses which carry some 15m. passengers a year.
A spokesman for the council declined to comment. Mr. Kenneth Wellman, the bus company's deputy general manager, said: -Wc have had talks with the corporation about possible ways of effecting a closer co-ordination of bus services in the Swindon area.
"The ball is in their court at the moment."