Loss of coach holiday firms like Shearings is devastating to Scarborough: Yorkshire Post Letters

WE all know that Covid-19 has brought the national and local economy to its knees.

The local economy in Scarborough, just like everywhere, hit the buffers and many shops, bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers and attractions and many other businesses came to a halt overnight along with people’s calendars looking forward to summer holidays, family events, and weddings all off for now.

We have seen hundreds of passenger aircraft grounded and the scenes on TV showing the aircraft parked up were unbelievable.

I am retired now but nearly the whole of my working life I was employed by local firm Plaxtons which makes luxury motor coaches and buses, and companies who buy them provide transport for many millions of people. Holiday travel has been mentioned by the airlines, but there has been very little mention of the coach holiday industry.

Our town’s hotels and day trippers rely on people coming to the town by coach and we know of three major operators that have gone into liquidation, with the sad loss of 2,500 jobs. These were major players in bringing people to our lovely town and the Borough of Scarborough for holiday breaks.

I send my condolences to all families of all those who have died of coronavirus.

It’s been and continues to be so sad, and to all those who have been working through this pandemic from the NHS, emergency services, supermarkets, local shops, teachers, care workers and others, I say a big thank you.

We will bounce back from this, and maybe in some areas we will be better and learn from this horrible pandemic and we don’t close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

From: Coun Philip Broadbank (Lib Dem), Starbeck Ward, Harrogate Borough Council.

AS the lockdown starts to ease, the country is going to be faced with the biggest public debt since 1945. This debt will have to be repaid from Government income and in particular, tax receipts.

On the face of it this would seem fair but a closer look at the tax system still shows, despite the plugging of some loopholes, the very wealthy are still favoured.

There are those who quite legally can still salt cash away in tax havens and claim non-dom status to claim tax exemption from income they receive offshore.

Indeed there are specialist accountancy firms that exist to give advice on tax avoidance, carefully keeping things within the law to ensure tax evasion does not occur.

If we really are “all in this together”, as the Prime Minister would have us all believe, then now is the time for a root and branch reform of our tax system to ensure we all pay our fair share.

In unveiling his economic support package just a few weeks ago, the Chancellor said “if we want to benefit equally from state support we must all pay equally in the future”.

If Mr Sunak really believes that, then he will start by reforming those legal practices at the top of the income tree. A faint hope when you look at how the Conservative Party is funded, particularly at a national level.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor