Bus cuts impacting on tourism in coastal village

Porlock is popular with visitors for its coast and countryside

Holidaymakers are spending less when they visit a popular coastal village, local businesses have said.

While tourism in Porlock, Somerset, has bounced back after the Covid-19 pandemic, local information centre manager Deborah Stanyon said tourists were not spending as much.

Business owner Daniel Lynam said he believes cuts to a previously popular open-top bus had also hit businesses hard.

The coastal Exmoor Explorer bus, which runs between Minehead and Ifracombe, has been reduced in frequency with bus operator First Bus South stating the service was expensive to put on, especially in quieter times.

Deborah Stanyon said holidaymakers were being more thrifty when visiting

Porlock is well known for its coastal scenery and hills and has traditionally seen plenty of visitors over the summer, but local business owners said people are not spending what they used to.

Ms Stanyon said: "People are mindful about getting best value for money and even when they get here they are being careful about where and how they spend."

Mr Lynam, owner of Exmoor Emporium on the High Street, said: "There is definitely a noticeable difference in people's spending and attitudes.

"People who would normally come for a week only come for three days."

Daniel Lynam said cuts to an open-top double-decker service are having an impact

Mr Lynam said he also believed that cuts to the open-top bus are impacting the area.

The coastal Exmoor Explorer bus now has a roof and runs for only three months a year.

"They have chosen money over potentially impacting the area. We have seen it. The open-top was amazing the last couple of years," Mr Lynam said.

"The queues to get on that every single day last year were phenomenal. I have not seen those queues this year."

Visitor Nick Bailey was disappointed not to be able to go on the open-top bus

Tourist Nick Bailey travelled more than two hours for a family trip to Porlock.

He said he was disappointed as he had hoped to relive his childhood with an open-top bus ride.

He added: "We were really looking forward to it. It was slightly going to be the highlight."

First Bus South said: "While we recognise there may be some local concerns, the Explore Exmoor service is expensive to operate, and very low passenger numbers in quieter months meant it was running at a loss."