Television Depresses Evening Peak
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THE drop in evening bus traffic in Scarborough was caused by television, the Yorkshire Licensing Authority was told, last week, when he granted an application by United Automobile Services, Ltd., to advance more than 90 fares on town services.
Mr. W. R. Hargrave, for the company, said that about 5m. out of 131m. tickets would be affected. The company had lost over £8,000 in the first four months of the year, although mileage had been cut by 8,000 a month.
The area superintendent of the company said that evening traffic had dropped to nothing because of weather conditions and television. Although Coronation day was exceptional, the number of passengers carried was smaller than that conveyed on a normal Sunday, because of people watching television. The Authority said that people were joining forces, and going for their amusement to each others' houses.
Five member companies of the nationalized Scottish bus group have lodged comprehensive applications to raise all 3d.-9d. single fares by id. In the southern division of the Scottish Traffic area, some 450 routes of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., arc affected, 540 of the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., 175 of W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., 135 of the Central S.M.T. Co., Ltd., and 22 of David Lawson, Ltd. In the northern division, the Alexander concern name about 460 services likely to be affected.
The Eastern Licensing Authority has allowed Lowestoft Transport Department to add 4d. to each of the fares from Id.-5d. Workmen's journeys will now be charged at 3d. return instead of ld. single. There was no opposition
to the application, and the Authority stated that he thought that credit reflected upon the department, as there had been no change in fares since 1911. Mounting costs and the wiping-out of reserves gave rise to the application.
He added a warning that any proposal that profits should be apropriated for rates relief should be carefully investigated, as there was likely to be a heavy item of capital repayment in 1958 or 1960.
Applications to revise charges have been made to the Authority by the Burwell and District Motor Service, Messrs. W. W. Ling, and Messrs. A. F. Braybrooke and Son. Nineteen services are involved.
Gellygear Transport Department have been permitted by the South Wales Licensing Authority to 'revise single and return fares on 11 routes.