CPT launches Back Britain’s Coaches campaign

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, CPT has launched a campaign, Back Britain’s Coaches which aims to pressure government about coach operators being considered leisure businesses, which would help them to access the Covid-19 business rates and grant schemes, and to achieve 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.

These two issues are causing particular concerns for the viability of many coach operators who have seen the government provide significant funding through the crisis for bus operations but not for coaches.

CPT chief executive Graham Vidler says: “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.”