Ribble
Page 36
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"Stonewalling 9 9
Attacked
INQUIRIES would become a mockery I if big operators were allowed to shelter behind the magnitude of their undertakings and refuse precise details of their operations, whereas those of small concerns were examined in detail, Mr. Henry Backhouse told the North Western Traffic Commissioners at Liverpool on Tuesday.
He attacked evidence given by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., as objectors to an application by K. S. Harvey and W. Blundell (Pilot Motors), Maghull; for a new excursion licence, which attracted strong opposition from established Liverpool operators. G. Peascod, Ltd., T. Lawrenson, Ltd., and British Railways also objected.
Ribble Motor Services and Lawrenson also applied for a picking-up point at the Coach and Horses Hotel, Maghull: Kenilworth Tours, Ltd., and Peascod siaught a picking-up point at Northway. Maghull; and A. Wright, Ltd., applied for Coronation Road and Liverpool Road, Lydiate. There were crossobjections from all the applicants.
Mr. G. Dawes, of Ribble Motor Services, said his company already had an excursion point at the north end of Maghull, and express and stage services used the "Coach and Horses." An application in 1949 established them in the area and, although at that time decision was reserved for other interested parties to apply, Lawrenson's were the only objectors and agreement was reached between them.
There was no room for a new operator and the picking-up point in the south of Maghull would only be for the convenience of the public. In 1957, 711 passengers were carried from Maghull by Ribble excursions and the whole area was well provided with public transport. Questioned by Mr. Backhouse, for Pilot Motors, Mr. Dawes agreed that when Ribble took over a stage service from Mr. T. H. Harvey, in 1938, they imposed a 20-year ban on his operation of licensed services.
Mr. Backhouse submitted that, because of this, Pilot Motors, Mr. Harvey's successors, were unable to apply in 1949.
Told by Mr. Dawes that he could give no precise information identifying operations from Maghull shown in the company's schedule, or under which licence, he suggested it was a typical example of Ribble stonewalling. Whenever possible. they withheld information concerning their excursion operations.
Mr. E. A. Whitehead, for the independent objectors, said their applications and objections were solely to protect existing facilities.
Mr. Backhouse argued that Harvey's had been contract-carriage operators in Maghull for more than 30 years, and the population was adequate to support at least one local licence.
Mr. F. D. Walker, for Ribble, submitted that if the Pilot application was granted, it would irt effect give them a daily service to Blackpool and Morecambe during the season in direct competition with Ribble express services. The agreement between Mr. Harvey, who died in 1942, and Ribble was not binding on Mrs. Harvey, and she could have applied at any time since.
Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said that in the Commissioners' opinion the evidence did not justify the grant of additional facilities from Maghull. The Pilot and Ribble applications would be refused. The remaining applications were withdrawn.