Leighton Buzzard coach company calls for government support during coronavirus pandemic

A coach company in Leighton Buzzard is raising awareness of a national campaign to get coach company's recognised as part of the leisure industry, to help it survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Marshalls Coaches LLP is supporting the 'Back Britain's Coaches' campaign by Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) which calls on the Government to provide support for the coach industry during the coronavirus crisis.

The company was established in 1974 by Fred and Sheila Marshall and provides transport for days out, schools, businesses and commuting.

With the lockdown suspending all business until further notice the company is calling on the government to recognise coach companies as part of the leisure industry.

Back Britain’s Coaches has two aims:

- The publication of formal government guidance to support the Local Government Association’s view that coach operators should be considered leisure businesses, which would help them to access the Covid-19 business rates and grant schemes.

- Alongside ABTA securing an amendment to the Package Travel Regulations to allow coach operators longer than 14 days to process refunds and to issue refund credit notes as an alternative to cash refunds.

Dean Marshall, one of the business partners, said: "We are having similar problems to Masons, as are many coach companies around the country.

"We are supporting the campaign, which is trying to get support for coach companies during the coronavirus pandemic.

"A lot of our business is seasonal, summer is our busiest time, the funding would help see us through to the end of the year and into next year.

"We were fortunate enough to receive the £25,000 grant from CBC as part of the leisure industry, and they gave us an exemption of our business rates, which really helps.

"We are probably going to be one of the last industries to open up.

"For one of our full size coaches to follow safe social distancing, we would only be able to have 12 people, which is not cost effective for customers or the business.

"We are still doing some transport for schools for Bucks Council, for children of key workers and rail replacement."

The CPT continues to work with coach operators to determine the amount of financial support needed to help the industry and make the case for coach specific support to government.

Graham Vidler, from CPT, said: "At this hugely difficult time, CPT is working with members across the country to 'Back Britain’s Coaches'.

"To help shape the campaign, CPT has worked with coach operators across the UK to find out what support they need during this crisis, and will work with Governments across the UK to secure support for the industry.

"Anyone who would like to find out more about the campaign and how they can support it can visit the resource centre on the CPT website, which will include social media graphics people can share on their social media accounts to raise awareness of the campaign.

"CPT members will also be able to find resources they can use to contact their local authority to access support that is already available. Once the Covid-19 outbreak is over we will all need to work together to repair the damage done to our local economies.

"If we want to bring tourists back into our local areas, get people back in our theatres, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, reinstate educational trips and help those who have been forced to spend a considerable length of time in isolation get back out and about, not to mention get people back to school and work, it is vital that coach businesses have the financial support to withstand the current crisis."

For more about the confederation of passenger transport's campaign, www.movingforwardtogether.uk/latest-news/cpt-recap-back-britain-s-coaches.