Opposition to London excursions
Page 34
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• To operate weekend sightseeing excursions to London throughout the year, Ward 'Bros. (Lepton) Ltd., Lepton, Nr. Huddersfield, applied to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners in Leeds on Tuesday for a new excursions and tours licence. Picking-up points at Kirkheaton, Grange Moor and Flockton were sought with a maximum of two vehicles on one day. There were six objectors.
Ward held a licence for 14 day-excursions and a demand had come from existing customers for the London tour which would not affect any of the objectors who served Huddersfield itself, submitted Mr. J. D. Walker for the applicants. Some private parties for similar trips had had to be cancelled because advertising was not permitted and an economic number had not booked, Mr. D. Ward, managing director of 'the company, said he hoped to operate at Christmas, Easter, in July and September but would limit it to 14 weekends if necessary. He could have run four trips last summer from the inquiries he had received.
Anyone from his area taking existing excursions found stage services inadequate to get home from Huddersfield on Sunday nights, considered Mr. Ward; a 12s/18s taxi ride or 2 /3-mile walk being the alternatives. Many excursions did not have sightseeing.
He agreed that if the Yorkshire Pool operators' express coach arrived back from London at 8.25 p.m. Sunday, there were adequate connecting services at that time. Despite the fact that these operators charged 55s for a weekend summer period return, Mr. Ward felt his 40s road fare would be economic with an £8 15s overall excursion charge.
Mr. W. Young, for BR, pointed out that there were rail mini-weekend tours and seven other short holidays which arrived back at Huddersfield or Wakefield in time for connecting bus services.
The sitting was adjourned.