Rural Operator Seeks Popular Trips
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IF rural bus operators are to continue operating unremunerative stage services, they must be allowed to subsidize
• them with excursions and tours. to popular seaside resorts, the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners were told last .week. Mr. J. Evans, for Booth and Fisher, Halfway, near Sheffield: said this was not only in the operators' 'interests, but also in the interests of the public. •
Booth and Fisher wanted to modify their excursion licenees from Dronfield and Killamarsh, both granted in 1956, which listed 61 resorts. Mr. Evans explained that Dronfield was . now confined to eastbound tours and Killamarsh was restricted to westbound working. But out of all the destinations named there were only three popular onesFiley, Blackpool and Rhyl.
Objectors were British Railways. Sharpe Bros. (Beighton), Ltd., Sheffield United Tours, Ltd., Grant and McAllin. Ltd., Park Garages (Swallow Nest), Ltd„ and Sheffield Joint Omnibus Committee. After hearing some of the evidence, the Commissioners adjourned the case until April IO.
Mr. Evans said it was proposed to delete some of the less popular destinations. and. add excursions which would include Scarborough, Bridlington, CIeethorpes, Skegness and London on the
Dronfield licence, and Southport, Morecambe, Manchester, Chester and New Brighton on the Killamarsh licence. The concern also wanted to increase the vehicle allowance on each licence from one to two on any one day and to add picking-up points at Kiveton, Wales and ,Mosbrough.
He pointed out that East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., who operated stage services in an adjoining area, had been granted excursion facilities and had not objected to the application.
Agreement on Objection
Mr. Fred Sharpe, a director of Sharpe Bros., said there .was an agreement -between East Midland and Booth and Fisher whereby no objection would be made against East Midland's application if the Mosbrough picking-up point were granted.
Mr. Evans replied that before the war the people of Mosbrough had their own excursion operator, but now they had to travel a considerable distance to join coaches. East Midland and Park Garage had both been allowed additional facilities since the grant to Booth and Fisher in 1956. It seemed Mr. Sharpe was putting his own interests before those of the public in Killamarsh, Mosbrough and Halfway.