Council secures 'coach-friendly status' to boost tourism in South Shields

The Confederation of Passenger Transport's (CPT) coach-friendly accreditation aims to identify local areas with "sustainable tourism" and increase the number of coach operators and visitors to these locations, with accreditation also providing free publicity via CPT.

CPT's website, which describes the organisation as the "leading trade body for the coach industry", states "any city, town or village that can demonstrate a significant tourism offer" can join the scheme, especially those that have "attractions that wish to generate more visitors and see coaches as a means of achieving this sustainably".

It was also noted that the coach-friendly status is a "valuable way for any local area - and its businesses such as major tourist destinations - to increase their earning potential, reduce congestion and improve air quality and the environment whilst continuing to develop tourism."

An interactive map on the CPT website lists several locations in the North East as having coach-friendly status, including Bishop Auckland, Durham City, the Beamish open air museum and Alnwick.

At a recent meeting of South Tyneside Council's Riverside Community Area Forum (CAF), it was confirmed that coach-friendly status is due to be officially awarded, with two new dedicated coach bays to bring coach tours to the borough.

The bays are expected to become operational next year, including one bay at South Shields Interchange and one at the South Shields foreshore to bring in coach tours and visitors.

The update came from Andrew Whittaker, South Tyneside Council's head of operations, at the Riverside CAF at South Shields Town Hall on December 16, 2025.

"We have been having discussions with Nexus and the national coach companies around bringing coach tours back to South Tyneside, you might see them at the coast going to the foreshore but we're not really on the map and not on the route," Mr Whittaker said.

"We have had the discussion with Nexus and the national coach confederation earlier this year to look at how we get [coach tours] back and how we get engaged again, we would love to get them back in the town centre before going back to the foreshore.

"We have had to jump through a few hoops with it but now we have, or will be awarded in January [2026], coach-friendly status.

"It's a title and looks great but what it means is that when those coaches come there's a dedicated bay for them now at the interchange [...] and we're also going to designate a bay at the foreshore for those coaches coming along."

The council officer said the local authority was "bigging up the town centre" to coach operators, including its existing facilities but also upcoming regeneration works including the major project to relocate South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School.

He added that there had been work with coach companies around supporting drivers and staff involved in coach tours, and that coach-friendly status is expected to be in place from January 1, 2026.

The CPT website notes that "becoming accredited as 'coach friendly' demonstrates a commitment to increase the number of coach visits that will increase footfall and therefore the income into local shops, cafés and other local businesses."

For more information on CPT's coach-friendly status, visit its website here: https://www.cpt-uk.org