The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has written to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as candidates to be the next Prime Minister and presented a list of points that it says the victor should follow to assist the coach and bus industry to do its part in helping deliver government objectives.
Sent by CPT CEO Graham Vidler on 22 August, the letter highlights the number of passenger journeys and the extent of the economic impact delivered by the sector. Mr Vidler also notes the existing contribution to the green agenda made by the industry, which he says neither Mr Sunak nor Ms Truss can “afford to ignore.”
However, in underlining how the mode can extend its impact, Mr Vidler lays out four areas of work that the Confederation wishes to see the next Prime Minister act upon “to ensure that the UK can deliver on its potential”:
- Engage with CPT to develop a fully funded, long-term roadmap for the delivery of zero-emission coaches and buses and their associated infrastructure
- Take immediate action to help solve the industry’s driver shortages. That is “critical” to ensuring that the necessary service levels can be delivered and it should involve government effort equal to that put into HGV driver recruitment, CPT says
- Work with the sector to rebuild passenger confidence via a pro-public transport message that captures both coaches and buses
- In England only, provide “stable and long-term” Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, accelerate the rollout of bus priority measures and introduce policies to deliver faster and more attractive coach and bus services.
The winner of the contest between Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will be named on 5 September. In his conclusion, Mr Vidler advises both candidates that long-term planning around coach and bus services can deliver “huge benefits” for the UK and its communities.
