Having been part of the panel at the Coach Tourism Association Conference, I would confirm the problems of how coaches have been treated with the introduction of Low Emission Zone on the 8 April in London.
How on earth do coaches get selected when hundreds of buses, thousands of taxis, local vehicles, aircraft and shipping discharge far more pollution than the small number of coaches which provide such excellent service to the Capital?
Coach parking has already been greatly reduced in London for the benefit of cyclists, who pay nothing – but if there was a central coach park, such as in Hyde Park (where they hold a massive Christmas market, that also pollutes the atmosphere), then coaches would not have to drive round and round searching for somewhere to stop, let alone park.
It would be interesting to know how Transport for London are going to identify foreign coaches coming into London to see if they meet Euro 6 standards, as the majority of exempt vehicles certainly do not.
It is clear we are the weakest industry in the public transport sector without a strong voice, as we continue to operate with ‘one arm tied behind our backs’.
The treatment of coach tourism in London is disgusting.
- Dave Parry, Managing Director, Parrys International
