Should Rural Councils Run Buses ?

10th November 1961, Page 99

10th November 1961

Page 99

Page 99, 10th November 1961 — Should Rural Councils Run Buses ?

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IS the time ripe for rural councils to

begin running their own bus services? This was the question raised at a meeting of Cardiff Rural Council, when they met last week to discuss an application by a local bus company to increase weekly and season ticket rates.

Dr. F. W. E. Rutter said that such applications were constantly coming before rural councils throughout the country. "This council alone has paid over £300 in the past three years to oppose them," he said. "Is this the time to start running rural bus services for our own residents?"

Dr. Rutter asked for a surveyor's report on the cost qf running a bus service for a certain route, as an example.

In answer, the clerk, Mr. B. H. Williams, said that when the council had considered the same matter some three years ago, they discovered that bus companies could counter by stopping any unremunerative service and only continuing with those which showed profit, "This would leave the council running all the less remunerative bus services, not just a few," he said.

The application under consideration was that of Western Welsh who want to increase weekly ticket rates by 5%, monthly season ticket rates. by 71% and quarterly season ticket rates by three times the monthly rate, less 5%.

Having heard the clerk report that there was no money available to contest the increases, the council resolved to oppose the application formally without becoming financially involved in the proceedings.