Mid Warwickshire Motors Limited

Mid Warwickshire Motors Limited (MWM) was a Bus and Coach Operator originally based at Balsall Common in the West Midlands. The company was significant in being one of the first private operators to be awarded a contract to provide Bus Services for a Passenger Transport executive (West Midlands PTE) within the Heart of England Area from 1 April 1978.

History

The Company was owned by George and Jean Day, and at its height operated a fleet of 11 new AEC Coaches, 1 Short Bristol coach and a New Ford Transit Minibus as well as 12 Second Hand Buses which ranged in the early days from AEC Merlins, AEC Swifts to ex Tyne and Wear and Greater Glasgow PTE single deck Leyland Panther buses.

The original maintenance facility was at Balsall Street East in Balsall Common with buses parked at Lincoln Farm Cafe outside Balsall Common, however due to planning issues at Balsall Common the Maintenance and Parking was moved to Station Garage in Marsh Lane, Water Orton. When the business moved some of the operations of Richardsons of Sutton Coldfield were also taken over who had formally been at Station Garage. However some of Richardsons operations continued to operate independently.

Mid Warwickshire Motors Purchased the bus and coach operations of Shirleys of Meriden and with that came the inclination to develop the Heart of England Bus Network. To enable the network to operate required the withdrawal of the West Midland PTE operated 158 service from Solihull to Hampton-in-Arden. The relationship with the PTE was never an entirely happy one since MWM was prevented from developing any services within the West Midlands County. The move to Water Orton also created a problem in the relationship with the PTE since with the additional dead mileage the PTE came to believe it could operate the network cheaper- however subsequent experience may in fact prove this to be pure wishful thinking.

On coach service deregulation in 1980 Mid Warwickshire attempted an ill fated foray into airport transfer services under the name GATWICK SKYLINK. The service operated 365 days a year on two routes linking Liverpool and Harrogate to Gatwick Airport. The service relied on a network of agents to take bookings. The vast geographical area and insufficient financial resources led to its cessation when Flightlink established itself on a dominant market footing.

A private hire sector served a variety of clients including local fishing clubs as well as founding a Balsall Common Theatre group. Overseas coaches were provided for Land Travel, Schoolplan and Schools Abroad among others.

The company was wound up as a result of action by the Inland Revenue in 1982. It was succeded by Heart of England Services Limited and Heart of England Tours Limited. West Midlands PTE (Acocks Green depot) originally operated an emergency service but failed to win the contract which was awarded to Midland Red Coaches. Heart of England Services Limited also operated a free service while it obtained an operator's licence from the Traffic Commissioners.

Route network

• 150-2 Warwick to Leamington Spa via Hatton, Shrewley and Lapworth (Tuesday to Saturdays)
• 154 Solihull to Balsall Common via Hampton In Arden(WMPTE Sponsored Service)
• 155 Solihull to Balsall Common via Hampton In Arden and Lincoln Farm (WMPTE Sponsored Service)
• 156 Solihull to Balsall Common via Knowle, Eastcote and Barston then extended to Meriden via Tile Hill South and Millisons Wood (WMPTE Sponsored Service)
• 157 Solihull to Balsall Common via Knowle, Chadwick End, Fen End and Temple Balsall (initial extension on Saturday to Kenilworth) (WMPTE Sponsored Service except for 1810 ex Solihull to Balsall Common which was operated Commercially)
• 158 Solihull to Balsall Common via Hampton In Arden, Meriden, Berkswell and Berkswell Station (WMPTE Sponsored Service)
• 161 Balsall Common to Warwick via Haseley Knob, Shrewley and Hatton (Warwickshire Sponsored Service)
• 165 Solihull to Wythall via Maypole
• 167/168 Solihull to Nuneaton via Hampton In Arden, Meriden, Fillongley and Arley
• 169 Balsall Common to Coventry via Duggins Lane and Earlsdon
• 173 Coleshill to Sutton Coldfield via Water Orton, Curdworth and Minworth
• 174 Coleshill to Sutton Coldfield via Shustoke, Whitacre Heath, Lea Marston, Water Orton, Curdworth and Minworth
• 190 Curdworth to Coleshill School Service
• 482 Walsgrave to Millisons Wood (Triumph Motorcycles Works Service)
• 483 Willenhall to Millisons Wood (Triumph Motorcyckes Works Service)

References

• Mid-Warwickshire Motors Ltd. Hansard, 15 April 1983.