Four "Private Party" Licences Granted in West Midlands
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SUBJECT to certain conditions, four coach operators from the Kidderminster area have been granted licences to run tours and excursions to Blackpool illuminations and Midland pantomimes by the West Midland Licensing Authority. They are Messrs. I. T. Whittle and Sons, of Iiighley, near Kidderminster; Mr. F. J. Ketley, of Stourport; Mr. 1. C. Simmonds, of Rock, near Bewdley; and S. and N. Wright (Coaches), Ltd., of Kidderminster. The conditions are that trips must be prebooked only, and there must be no advertising of specific dates of tours.
A similar application by Mr. C. A. Wood (Woodstone's Coaches), of Kidderminster, was refused.
Hearings were reported in The Commercial Motor on November 13, 20 and 27. Announcing h i s decision, t h e Authority, Mr. W. P. James, said the licences granted would authorize the operation of excursions and tours, and would be limited only by such conditions as the public interest might require.
On the question of the rights of existing operators, Mr. James suggested that they had none. There was nothing in the Act to prevent the Licensing Authority deciding that increased facilities should be provided, partly by existing services and partly by new ones.
The advertising of trips depended on the area served. In rural districts, where access to the operator was difficult, general advertising, omitting specific dates of tours, would probably be necessary. In industrial areas, a further limitation would probably meet the legitimate aspirations of the operator and present no difficulty to those who wished to take advantage of the services which were available.
Mr. James said that for many reasons licences would be granted for a limited period of one year. They would carry conditions with regard to setting-down and picking-up places. That was a most important provision, bearing in mind the need for public safety.
There are still many more applications to be heard by the West Midland Licensing Authority.