Highland coach operator calls for bus companies in Scotland to receive same help as Northern Ireland counterparts
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Private bus companies in Scotland hit by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic should receive similar help to their Northern Ireland counterparts, according to an Inverness coach operator.
D&E Coaches – the region’s largest private hire operator – is calling on the Scottish Government to follow the example set by the Northern Ireland Executive which is introducing a scheme of support for hard-pressed operators hit by the collapse of the coach hire market.
Grants of £8000 will be paid for the first vehicle and £4450 for each additional one, up to a total of £100,000 per operator.
Donald Mathieson, founder and managing director of D&E Coaches, is writing to tourism minister Fergus Ewing to seek similar backing for the Scottish sector following a massive downturn in bookings as a result of Covid-19.
The company, which has a fleet of 60 coaches, employs 80 people.
Although it still has 35 school run contracts with Highland Council, its summer series of coach hires, including golf outings, has now shrunk and Christmas party bookings have all been cancelled.
"Life has been extremely tough for our sector, with many coach hire firms simply collapsing and jobs lost," Mr Mathieson said.
"Lack of help from the Scottish Government has been as surprising and it’s been disappointing. Operators have felt like they’re hitting their heads against a brick wall.
"But Northern Ireland becoming the first of the home nations to award industry-specific support to businesses in our sector is setting a valuable precedent which we hope Scotland will follow.
"Hopefully, it could now be a new ball game."
The Northern Ireland Executive is making £19 million available, including to taxi firms, in its support fund.
Mr Mathieson and his wife Elizabeth founded D&E Coaches 24 years ago.
The firm was voted Highlands and Islands best family business of the year at an awards event involving the Courier and Inverness Chamber of Commerce last autumn.
Related story: Coach operator faces £1.5million income loss with cancellation of Highland cruise ship season
