This month, UKCOA Managing Director Peter Bradley reports back on a recent meeting with Westminster City Council
Every six to eight weeks, four of the trade bodies that represent the coach industry (the UK Coach Operators Associations (UKCOA), the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Coach Tourism Association (CTA)) meet with Transport for London (TfL) to discuss issues that impact coaches in England’s capital city.
All those who attend (including TfL) recognise the value of the coach, and at the heart of each meeting is the need to improve coach facilities and ensure that during major events (such as the funeral of HM The Queen last year and the forthcoming Coronation) the requirements for private hire and tourist coaches are taken into account. Sadly, however, the many other priorities that need to be considered in managing the transport system in London mean that the coach is some way down the pecking order.
At our last meeting at the very beginning of March we welcomed representatives from Westminster City Council (WCC). Again, it is a useful opportunity for the coach industry to update Westminster officers on issues such as progress on low- and zero-emission, and for the council to report back on its priorities and how they impact coaches.
Since its current inception in 1965, WCC has been Conservative led, until the election in 2022 made Labour the majority party. I for one was interested to see if that had resulted in any major change in policy.
As far as transport is concerned, I could not see any significant differences. The council is elected by its residents and they still have strong views on many issues including coaches; but not all of those are positive. Sadly, the continuing issues of engine idling on coach bays and other kerbside locations means that we are likely to lose more of these facilities in the coming months and years. The trade bodies argued strongly as to why they were essential, and why we need more, not less, places for coaches to park (as well as set down and pick up). However, many properties above shops and offices are occupied and their inhabitants do not appreciate the noise and airborne pollution that results from engines being left running. It is difficult for us to defend.
Changes in security following some of the terrorist incidents in recent years will potentially also lose us some more bays in and around tourist attractions; again, it is difficult to argue for their retention when we understand the reasons for their proposed removal.
Clean air and zero-emission are at the top of the political agenda in London as well as other cities. It can be challenging to defend the position of the coach, even with the evidence that we are working hard with Zemo and other bodies to find a suitable outcome for longer distance vehicles. “Solutions have been found for the taxi, bus and cars – why are coaches so far behind?” we have heard the council say.
It is not all negative. Progress has been made at finding robust facilities for setting down and picking up tourists wishing to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and the trade bodies have a plan to try and influence some of the local politicians. We are also grateful to some of the local bus operators that have (or are) making their garages close to central London available for coach parking during the day, thanks to CPT.
