The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has set out its priorities for the next government that will allow coaches to continue to deliver vital services and help them to contribute to air quality improvements. It includes provision of coach retrofit funding to assist with the upgrading of existing vehicles to Euro VI standards.
CPT has called on the government to:
- Introduce a long-term strategy to help ‘green’ the coach fleet, including the provision of national clean air funding to help with exhaust retrofit.
- Ensure that there is enough flexibility in a future immigration system and include coach driving on a shortage occupation list
- Strengthen national planning regulations in relation to coach parking for places likely to receive large numbers of visitors.
CPT says that coaches’ flexibility in carrying people from a wide range of demographics must be recognised by the new government.
Adds Chief Executive Graham Vidler: “The next government has an opportunity to maximise the environmental, economic and social benefits of coach travel.
“Investment in a national clean air fund to help coach meet Clean Air Zone requirements, a flexible immigration policy so the industry has the workers it needs and sufficient parking at tourism hotspots will help the industry go from strength to strength.”
CPT’s own Coach Strategy remains on target for publication in Spring 2020.
