Coach 'problem' in GLC tourist report
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IN A draft document entitled Tourism: A paper for discussion the Greater London Council has looked at tourism in the capital. It is surprising that in the document, which mentions the advantages brought by the number of tourists visiting London and the incidental problems their visits are causing no acknowledgement is made of the role of the coach in the tourist industry, writes the Passenger Editor.
Coaches are regarded as the cause of problems, which, even though the GLC is improving matters, are still far from being resolved.
The document notes that provision for tourist coaches, including an increhsing number of foreign vehicles, has been a growing problem in recent years. It points out that most coaches visit main attractions at fixed times as their passengers usually want to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and this happens at the same time each day so traffic problems are cuased.
It mentions the achievements of the Tourist Coach Working Party which is chaired by a GLC officer and acts as a forum for discussionbetween the Department of the Environment, London borough councils, London Transport, the Police and the coach trade.
It cites the GLC coach park map, the coach parking meters and the setting-down arrangements at Lambeth Palace Road as being among this working party's achievements. If the council perhaps looked at the advantages of conveying large numbers of tourists in single vehicles, the problems caused by tourist coaches could be weighed against their advantages.
Coach operators and their representative organisations should stress that it must be advantageous and more manageable for all concerned to transport a proportion of tourists in coaches, becausethey are quicker and more comfortable.
If coaches were acknowledged as an advantage, proper provision would be made for parking and garaging them at hotels and tourist attractions.