AN INQUIRY INTO A BUS EXTENSION APPLICATION.
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Battles between conflicting interests in the passenger-carrying industry are by no means uncommon in the North of England, but few, if any, have provided a more unusual situation than that in the Hartlepools neighbourhood, which is now awaiting investigation by the Ministry of Transport. The West Hartlepool Corporation has recently made application to the Ministry for a Provisional Order to operate buses along the new Tees Road from Great. ham to Port Clarence, or, in other
words, to enable it to extend its existing powers to include the whole of the road. Strong objection to this application is being taken' by the London and North Eastern Railway Co., which urges that it already serves the route adequately by means of rail services, and the outcome is an intimation from the Ministry that an inquiry will be held.
The interesting point in this case is that a few weeks ago the Ministry, following an inquiry at Stockton, declined to sanction the continuance of a service over the Tees Road by the Stockton Corporation, and both West Hartlepool and Stockton authorities are now running without sanction. The Middlesbrough Corporation, which possessed running powers until August last, when it failed to renew its application on the expiration of its seven years' sanction, discontinued operation over the route some time ago on account of steady losses on services to destinations outside the town.