A campaign, which is sending a message of ‘Wish You Could Hear’ to government ministers, is fast gaining momentum for the UK coach sector, thanks to the continued drive of McCarron Coates, the specialist bus and coach insurance brokers behind it.
Jane Cole, managing director of Blackpool Transport and the new president of the NW Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, who will also become president of the Confederation of Passenger Transport in the New Year, has now shown her support.
Jane and colleague, James Carney, finance and commercial director of Blackpool Transport, staged a photo-call with Jill and Mary Walton, of Waltons Coaches, based in Freckleton, in front of Blackpool’s iconic Tower, to help raise the profile of the ‘Wish You Could Hear’ campaign.
All posed with the retro postcard, which McCarron Coates has devised as a lobbying mechanism, as it calls for more financial support for an industry more decimated by the pandemic than most Featuring a coach in coach tourism’s heyday, the postcard also carries an emotive message of:
“Having a truly torrid time. Black clouds ever-present. Coach sector is beached. Vehicles laid up, family businesses in ruins, finance agreements on off-the-road coaches being enforced.
Wish MPs would shout out that the coach sector matters – to tourism, leisure & education. It matters to all destinations, attractions, theatres, schools and community groups. To people of all ages. Probably won’t be back next year.”
The postcard is available in both hard and electronic formats, for sending to MPs and influencers able to bring pressure to bear on the government.
The electronic format was developed at the request of VisitBlackpool, which will encourage hoteliers and other tourism businesses in the resort to lobby on the coach sector’s behalf.
The McCarron Coates activity is providing support to the coach sector’s own ‘Honk for Hope’ campaign and Honk for Hope organisers are also encouraging use of the postcards.
‘Wish You Could Hear’ launched with a photo call with family firm J&B Travel Ltd, of Stanningley, Leeds, which has suffered devastating impacts during the pandemic. It has since earned praise from many coach operators and Walton Coaches’ support is now most welcome.
Speaking in support of ‘Wish You Could Hear’, Jane Cole, said: “We are delighted to support this campaign, as coach operators need urgent assistance. 2020 has been devastating for the coach sector, with many family firms having already closed down. We must save a sector on which so many of us rely, whether it is to get our children to school, to provide us with leisure and holiday options, or to transport us to sports matches. Coach operators have been the forgotten victims of the pandemic and that needs to change.”
McCarron Coates director, Paul Coates, says: “We thank Blackpool Transport and Jane Cole personally for their support. With the backing of influential industry figures like Jane, we hope more operators will make use of our postcard and help the industry to be heard.”
Fellow director, Ian McCarron, adds: “We have had so much positive feedback that we are certain we can make a difference. Sending a card to an MP is so easy to do and enhances the chance of gaining additional financial support for the coach sector’s passionate operators.”
Anyone wishing to have cards, or an electronic card, should get in touch with McCarron Coates.
