Yesterday’s announcements to safeguard jobs and encourage consumer spending in some parts of the economy are welcome – but fall short of what our hard-hit automotive sector needs.
The coach sector is a key part of our travel, tourism and hospitality industry, and one of the hardest hit at that, where business has virtually disappeared. If we are to see the tourism industry pick back up, coaches need to be a central part of that restart plan, given how many venues and attractions depend on them for customers. Representations have been made to Government, and a high-level meeting is due in the next few days, which we hope will lead to some changes.
And finally, with sadness I must say goodbye to Neil McIntee, who passed away recently following a short illness. An ex-editor of What Van? and one of the top motoring journalists in the commercial vehicle sector, Neil was a great guy, and one of the fixtures and fittings of the industry. We will all miss him.