‘Honk for Hope’ sees 120 coaches join rally to appeal for more help
MORE THAN 120 coaches from across the UK descended on Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire to highlight the crisis the sector is facing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Honk for Hope UK rally saw calls for the Government to give more support to the industry, amid fears thousands of drivers could lose their jobs.
David Mills, owner of Barnsley-based Yorkshire Rose Coach Holidays, said he counted himself among the lucky ones, because Barnsley College and Barnsley Council, had paid them enough to cover their costs.
But their main business outside student transport – hundreds of holidays and day trips – has seen no income coming in.
He said: “The Confederation of Passenger Transport is after a £90m bailout – but no one sees it coming any time soon.
“Drivers have been furloughed
INDUSTRY APPEAL: Coach operators gathered for the ‘Honk For Hope UK’ protest at Lightwater Valley, Ripon,
which is a big help, but that is coming to an end in August.
“With social distancing we can’t have 49 people on a coach, we are limited to 20 and will have to just about break even just to run trips.”
Lee Bradd, business partner of Blue Sky Coaches, based at Rothwell, Leeds, said they had invested nearly £600,000 in new coaches
for the Leeds Clean Air Zone. “We picked one up in March, it did two day trips and it’s not been out since. June and July is when we make our money and get through the winter – we just haven’t made it this year.” Mr Bradd said they had chosen to demonstrate in North Yorkshire rather than going to London blocking roads and causing “chaos”.