Nottingham Expects £23,000 Bus Loss
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FACED with a deficit of 123,000 on the current year's working, Nottingham Corporation will seek another fares increase next June—unless operators get some relief in the Budget. This warning was given by Ald. S. P. Hill, chairman of the transport committee, when he announced that no cuts in services were planned to help raise the 01,500 addition to the wages bill. " Bus service cuts ought to be the last resort," he said. "We have got to carry some services which do not pay because we are not just a paying concern, we provide a public service." In any case, cuts to bring in the required amount would mean " slaughtering" services. Traffic had fallen by seven per cent, in the past two years whilst costs had increased. Therefore, the committee were "hoping against hope" that concessions would be given in the Budget. The Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., have been granted revisions which will yield £40,000 in a full year. Sub-normal single and return fares will be increased and so will the cost of scholars' tickets. Workmen's day returns and adult season tickets will be abolished. The East Midland Traffic Commissioners were told that it was proposed to save £5.000 by withdrawing some unremunerative services, although the possibility of an application for a general fares increase could not be ruled out. Southampton Corporation are to seek the abolition of returns, but they have in mind period contracts for passengers making regular journeys. The general fares question will be reviewed when consideration is given to the undertaking's replacement programme.