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First Scots dial-a-ride case adjourned

9th March 1973, Page 34
9th March 1973
Page 34
Page 34, 9th March 1973 — First Scots dial-a-ride case adjourned
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• The first Scottish application for dial-a-ride bus operation was heard in Glasgow on Monday when Ben Thompson Cabs Ltd of East Kilbride asked approval for a new service of stage carrying between the Calderwood and St Leonard s districts of East Kilbride through the railway station and town centre. Central SMT opposed as the existing operators in East Kilbride.

Mr Dennis Cloney, director, said that the firm was a taxi-radio service company and all the shareholders were taxi owners in East Kilbride. They had considerable experience of co-ordination of taxi operation and had been impressed by the need for a variation of the existing taxi service which was unable to cope with peak periods and which was too costly for some residents.

They proposed to operate a dial-a-ride service feeding into the railway station at stated times to meet all trains. Passengers would also be picked up from their homes having booked perhaps an hour ahead. There would be no precise route since this would vary according to the calls received but within that pattern they would adhere to a timetable and to a properly defined route between the starting point and the terminus. The application had the support of Fast Kilbride Development Corporation, East Kilbride town council, British Rail, the Rail Development Association and residents.

The scheme was based on dial-a-bus services operating in Maidstone, Harrogate, Abingdon and Harlow New Town. After the application had been made, said Mr Cloney, Central had also put in applications covering the route.

For Central SMT it was claimed that the applicants were quite ignorant of transport operations, had no vehicles themselves, and no knowledge of the legal aspects.

Mr F. Richardson, planning officer of East Kilbride Development Corporation, was asked by Central why the town had altered its attitude to bus operation and when this had happened. Mr Richardson said that East Kilbride town council was now the road authority and that there was now a new readiness to consider entry of smaller buses into the residential areas of the town. Central should seek confirmation directly from the town council.

Mr R. Farrell, for Central SMT, said that it was a pity that Central had to receive an important change of this nature casually and at such a hearing.

Mr A. B. Birnie, chairman, said the Commissioners would continue the hearing at a future date in East Kilbride and would inspect the proposed routes and other aspects of the application.


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