Page 1041 - Reading Mercury

on average approximately one day a week—days go by without a bus—one day a
coach was used....This bus fills a big gap in the rush hour on the Wokingham Road.
Cllr. Crail also states the case for the unfortunate London commuters who live in the
eastern half of Wokingham. “One may leave the train at Bracknell and just miss a
west-bound bus by five minutes or one may leave the train at Wokingham and, after at
least a five minute walk into town, miss the east bound bus by five minutes—this on a
half hour interval service.”
The General Manager of the Alder Valley co., Mr. P. Scully, said, “The various
points raised in it are being investigated and I have arranged to meet Mr. Crail in due
course.”

BLUE POOL CAN BE USED FOR TIPPING
Although Wokingham Borough Council failed to have enforcement notices against
tipping and depositing of refuse on land at the Blue Pool upheld by the Department of
the Environment, the outcome has not been unsatisfactory from their view-point. This
was made clear at the meeting of the Public Health Committee on Tuesday. It was
reported by Mr. Nigel Butler, the Clerk that the Secretary of State had allowed the
appeals of Thomas Lawrence and Sons (Bracknell) Ltd., Harry A. Coff Ltd, and Peter
Wilkins Ltd., relating to the use of this land for the tipping of refuse, spoil and waste
materials.
The enforcement notice had been quashed and temporary conditional planning
permission was granted for that use. “I do feel that as far as this committee was
concerned it was a successful prosecution because it led to them having to comply
with the standards we laid down,” said Cllr. J.W. Tattersall.
Mr. Butler said that the appeal was successful on planning grounds as well, because
of the view expressed that it was desirable that the appeal site should eventually be
filled in.
Cllr. J. Watson said that conditions of the consent were not being complied with, in
that tipping was being done on Sundays. As 28 days were allowed for compliance the
situation would have to be watched.
Mr. J.B. Bowden, Chief Public Health Inspector said he had one complaint, in that
certain Saturday morning traffic was arising from the use of the pool.

st
Thur 31 May
THE CAUSES OF LATE BUSES AND CANCELLED JOURNEYS
Mr. N.D. Flower, Commercial Manager of the Alder Valley Bus Company, spoke to
members of the Wokingham and District branch of the National Council of Women at
a morning meeting held last week. Mr. Flower told members of the many difficulties
the company had encountered during the past five to ten years.
The three main causes of trouble were the increase in the number of private cars
which led to a loss of revenue for the bus company; the rapid growth of costs in the
late 1960s, and the great inflation of wages in 1969-70; and traffic congestion.
The rise in costs and wages resulted in a jump in fare charges and consequent loss of
passengers. Traffic congestion made running to a reliable timetable virtually
impossible Added to this, certain depots had a shortage of staff and vehicles which
sometimes meant cancelling journeys at short notice with obvious inconvenience to
passengers.
“57% buses are at present operated by one-man crews to help keep down costs and
alleviate the staffing problem and more are to follow,” he said. Reading in particular
had vehicle maintenance difficulties as their fleet of buses was so old. New buses, at

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