For just under 30 years, Landmark Coaches have been providing transport for day trips out, theatre trips, seaside excursions and international and UK tours. We also carry over 1000 children to school each day and provide bus services for the local area. This is just a small part of how we serve the local community.
Despite all of this, coach operators are currently not considered leisure businesses for the purposes of accessing the Covid-19 business rates and grant schemes that the Government has announced.
COVID-19 has very rapidly caused severe financial difficulties for all coach operators, putting the long-term viability of the whole sector at risk. Without access to the financial support available to the rest of the leisure and tourism industry, it will be nigh on impossible for many coach operators to continue trading and to resume services once ‘business as usual’ resumes. Some coach operators who have been trading for many years have already closed their doors for the last time.
To be able to bring tourism back into our local areas, ensure our children are transported safely to school, get people back to the seaside and visiting our theatres as well as reinstating educational trips and helping people back into full employment, it is vital that coach businesses have the financial support needed to withstand the current crisis ready to get Britain On The Move again, once this pandemic is over.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport is leading a campaign of awareness and asking everyone to Back Britain’s Coaches.
