§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Transport why the traffic commissioners took away the licence of the local carrier for a motor-van at Cold Ash, near Newbury; and whether, in view of the hardships imposed on the inhabitants of Cold Ash by the loss of their only transport service, he will issue a licence immediately to one of the applicants?
§ Mr. PYBUSMr. Austin, of Cold Ash, made application for road service licences in respect of two routes, Newbury and Bradfield and Newbury and Marlstone, both via Cold Ash. Licences were refused, and on appeal I upheld the decision of the traffic commissioners as I was778W satisfied, and so informed the appellant, that at the time when the applications were determined by the commissioners he was not in a position to operate the services. I am informed that Mr. Austin's services were not the only ones serving Cold Ash as two other services (one between Cold Ash and Newbury on weekdays, and one between Cold Ash and Reading on Fridays) are in operation under the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles (Transitory Provisions) (No. 2) Order pending decisions by the commissioners on applications for road service licences. Further, Mr. Austin has now made application in respect of a route between Newbury and Hermitage via Cold Ash (which is almost identical with the route Newbury to Marlstone mentioned above), and it is the commissioners' intention to deal with this application ht an early date.