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Moray firm in 'Back UK coach industry during Covid downturn' plea


By Alan Beresford

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THE director of a Buckie coach firm has urged Westminster to put in place a support package for the industry to help it through the Covid-induced downturn.

Mayne's Coaches operations director Kevin Mayne. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Mayne's Coaches operations director Kevin Mayne. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Kevin Mayne, who is operations director for Mayne's Coaches and a member of the Scottish Executive committee of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) – widely recognised as the voice of the industry – has submitted written evidence to the UK parliament's transport committee to make the case for temporary financial aid.

In addition to the creation of a financial support package for coach operators to allow them to meet their financial obligations, he has urged local authorities to issue full payments to coach firms for home to school contracts and tendered services, even where they may not be fully operated.

Mr Mayne went on to call on councils to consider coach operators as part of the leisure sector so that they may access the Coronavirus Support Fund.

He stressed that the sector was "prepared to work for this support" in a variety of ways.

Mr Mayne added: "I would welcome any influence you can bring on the government to give support to our industry and I would be happy to discuss this with you further.

"It is imperative to note that although I have written this based on my own personal experience and the uncertainty that I have regarding the future of my own company, I have engaged with countless industry peers who hold the same concerns as I do. I have also been in discussion with many tourist and coach travel dependent companies who also mirror our fears.

"This is an industry-wide issue across the whole of Scotland. Small places that rely heavily on coaches and many small businesses and hotels rely solely on coaches, villages, towns, and our cities need coaches to be ready and willing when the time comes, and it will.

"The coach industry carries around 42 per cent of all incoming tourists. If there are no coaches to transport tourists then the cruise ships, people and holiday makers will simply go elsewhere. Our industry is vital to our economy, vital to rural industries and vital to every small town, village, and city across our beautiful country.

"I sincerely hope that the future can be stabilised before another pivotal tourist and coaching operation falls, like the Specialist Leisure Group, David Urquhart Travel, and many others.

"I hope that this plea is enough for your consideration and support, however I am always more than willing to talk further and immerse myself into discussions to come to a resolve."

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