Bakers Dolphin join drive to save coach industry A Bakers Dolphin coach from Weston-super-Mare will join a convoy converging on London today (Mon) as part of a campaign to get the Government to offer more support for the struggling industry, which has been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The tourism sector will not be able to bounce back from the pandemic without a secure and viable coach industry to take people to the attractions and hotels.
“Many coach companies, like ours, also provide school transport services, which will be vital to Vehicles from coach companies all over the country support the Government’s intent to fully re-open schools in September. will converge on Westminster and ‘Honk for Hope’ in a bid to save businesses which are vital for Brit“But our school’s work is only financially viable ain’s tourism and hospitality industries. with a thriving tourism business alongside it, as the vehicles are used for other purposes between the Similar convoys have recently taken place in Lancashire, Wales and North Yorkshire but today’s morning and afternoon school runs. convoy will go to the heart of the capital. “Our trade association, The Confederation of Passenger Transport, recently met with governBakers Dolphin has already lobbied local MPs Dr Liam Fox and John Penrose in recent weeks urging ment representatives who said that no additional financial assistance for the coach industry, beyond them to lobby government colleagues to do more to support coach companies who play a vital role in the existing furlough and loans schemes, will be supporting the wider UK tourism industry, transport- provided. ing people to and from destinations and attractions. “That is why we are supporting the Honk for Hope convoy in London today, because it seems as if the Bakers Dolphin, a family business based in Weston-super-Mare since 1889, provides holidays, coach industry is being forgotten by a Government days out and school travel for Bristol and the South which has provided additional financial support to the trains, planes, buses and even e-scooters. West. Its 70 vehicles have stood idle for months with the first of a limited number of tours going “We have been in contact with the Transport Secahead in August as lockdown measures have retary Grant Shapps but he pushed the onus on to eased. local authorities. North Somerset Council are still pursuing a policy of giving school contracts to the Many of its 100 employees have been furloughed; lowest bidder, cutting potential income still further.” some worked as back-up ambulance drivers for Bristol Ambulance EMS across the region. Like many operators, Bakers Dolphin has introThe firm was awarded the new VisitEngland “We’re duced many new safety measures, including Good To Go” charter mark which confirms it meets investing in on-board air purification technology on its coaches that destroys biological pollutants, such all COVID-19 Government and public health guidas bacteria, viruses and germs. ance, but with fewer people allowed on coaches income will be limited this summer. Several of the tours it is running next month will use its Gold Service coaches, which already have Managing Director Max Fletcher said: “Our vital reduced capacity and more space, making it much industry contributes £4 billion to the UK economy. easier to adhere to social distancing rules. We’ve already seen one high-profile casualty, with Specialist Leisure Group, owner of Shearings But without support beyond the furlough scheme Holidays, going into administration and we know ending in October the coach industry faces a tough of seven other firms across the country that have winter after the worst summer takings ever. announced closure this week.
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