Coaches are bringing in £20m to Birmingham, according to CPT West Midlands, which has been surveying local towns and cities within the region to see if there is any planning taking place to capture the coach market and boost the local and regional economy.
“The information has been drifting back in from the survey and whilst not every local authority has yet responded. A picture is developing, creating a scene whereby the coach is being overlooked by planners in many of our towns,” said Phil Bateman, CPT WM regional manager.
“By forgetting the coach and the contribution it can make by bringing in visitors and other groups, a town is ignoring the benefit which comes to a local economy by providing dedicated coach parking.
“Birmingham is a city which is aware of the potential of the coach, and in the last couple of years has done much to capture its value.”
The city council has invested in providing coach parking and ‘drop off’ points.
“Birmingham has more than 55 coach parking spaces, including a dedicated coach park which is due to fully open soon, along with other pick up and set down stops.
“The new coach park in Brewery Street provides up to 36 coach spaces (shared with HGVs) and provides great facilities for coach drivers to eat, shower and rest.
“The city council estimates 20,000 coaches currently arrive in Birmingham during a year, and their customers are spending £20m in the city. The coach potentially could make even a bigger impact.”
