As a Londoner himself, LTCOA Director Peter Bradley makes an impassioned plea to not give up on the capital
I have lived and worked in or very close to London for all of my life.
While we can always find challenges with any place where we reside and are employed, I am for one very proud of our English capital city.
I remember travelling up with my grandmother on a London Transport Red Rover ticket in the early 1970s and taking in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Post Office Tower (as it was then) and the Tower of London.
I didn’t notice then that many of the landmark buildings were covered in soot and grime and there was still evidence of war damage. I just enjoyed the experience, and enjoyed what now seem very simple pleasures, such as the cartoon cinema in Buckingham Palace Road (who remembers that?).
And yes, London was chaotic then. The tube could not always be relied on, certainly not like today. There were, on many occasions, long gaps while waiting for a bus. Traffic congestion was an issue even in the 1970s. It is very easy to forget; many of us have rose-tinted spectacles when looking back to our early days.
More challenges
Move forward 45 years or so, and our dear old capital city has still got challenges it has to face.
Some of those buildings we admire so much need drastic work on them which will take years to complete, the Houses of Parliament being one – I do miss hearing Big Ben chime.
Some of the infrastructure below the ground which we rely on so much without even thinking about it needs renewal, resulting in road closures for a time. Also, London is still growing and more people still want to come, live and work here – and many more are not leaving in the way they used to.
I know many coach and bus operators across the country have given up on London and no longer offer any tours. I do understand why, especially for those who are not familiar with it.
There are many other beautiful places to visit in the British Isles, a number of which benefit hugely from domestic visitors.
Drink it in
However, and I make a plea here, please don’t dismiss London out of hand. Yes, the Ultra Low Emission Zone will impact on those coach operators who do not have sufficient or any Euro 6 coaches, and will therefore have to pay a charge. Yes, parking and setting down/picking up passengers can be challenging at times, and traffic speeds have reduced in many locations.
Bus London still has so much to offer. Stand on Hungerford Bridge (that’s the one that parallels the railway line into Charing Cross Station), look east towards the city and drink in the sights. It is different in the day, at night, in the sunshine or when it is raining. In my opinion it’s beautiful.
ULEZ seminar
I am sure in 50 years’ time London will still be challenged, but it will be with issues we can hardly imagine now.
So, ask for help. Join the London Tourist Coach Operators Association (or another trade body). Attend the free seminar we are hosting on 1 April on the Ultra Low Emission Zone (further details at ltcoa2@gmail.com).
Speak to those who are familiar with operating in London. Enjoy, with your customers, what the capital city of England has to offer.
