"Regular sOperators Need Protection
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OPERATORS carrying passengers throughout the year should be protected against concerns who wanted traffic only when the sun shone, the North Western Traffic Commissioners were told on Tuesday. They were continuing the hearing of applications by Mills and Seddon, Ltd., who wanted to link pickingup points on licences covering their services from Farnworth, Walkden and Radcliffe (The Commercial Motor, June 6).
The company also sought 78 new excursions from Walkden, together with a longer period of operation, more vehicles, and permission to carry passengers to Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. There were objections by British Railways; Lancashire United Transport, Ltd.; Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd.; Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.; W. C. Standerwick, Ltd.; and North Western Road Car Co., Ltd.
Mr. W. Blackhurst, for the road objectors, said people who did not travel by Mills and Seddon could use existing road facilities or use the railways. They carried passengers all the year round, whereas Mills and Seddon concentrated on excursions—" operating when the sun shone.". If their fleet made double and triple runs they would not have to hire so many vehicles.
For Mills and Seddon, Mr. H. Taylor, general manager at Farnworth, Claimed that figures for last year's local and general holidays justified the vehicle increase. His company carried the bulk of the excursion traffic, and a great saving could be made if the proposed linking were allowed.
For British Railways, Mr. G. H. P. Bearnes said it would have been helpful if some of the people wanting to use Mills and Seddon services had given evidence. Grants would naturally benefit the company, but not necessarily the public.
. Mr. T. Boardman, traffic assistant for L.U.T., said his company's excursions and express services had to be protected. The increase in facilities being sought would abstract traffic from the objectors.
The hearing continued.
THREE BUILDERS COMBINE ON BRIDGES
THE Minister of Transport told the
House of Commons on Tuesday that a consortium of three builders of steel bridges had been formed to construct the Forth and Severn road bridges.
The Ministry have announced that the new bridge over the River Avon at Bristol, which is to cost nearly £290,000, will be completed within the next two years.
An £81,000 scheme to reduce traffic delays at Canning Circus, Nottingham, one of the city's worst congestion points, has been approved by the city council. The flow of traffic will be controlled by a new gyratory system. Work will probably start in the current financial year.