Coach firm boss in Euro protest

Dave Parry, of Parrys International, at Landywood Green, says the rules, which came into force on April 11, are hitting coach tour firms hard. Under the regulations drivers have a maximum working week of 60 hours with a minimum 11 hours' rest per day with nine consecutive hours.

Drivers must also take a total of 45 minutes rest for every four-and-a-half hours of driving. Mr Parry believes this will cripple holiday coach firms like his business and has written to government ministers and EU politicians to protest.

He is also part of a move to bring gridlock to Westminster on Wednesday when coach operators from across the UK will descend on the centre of London in their vehicles as a protest.

Mr Parry said: "These new regulations do not consider coach tours, which are completely different from all other transport industries.

"We cannot operate our normal holidays with one driver even though the amount of driving hours are minimal. We are being forced to make our tour drivers take time off while away from home instead of at home. We now cannot operate our seven to 11-day holidays without giving the driver time off on tour. This is often not possible."

Mr Parry, who has called on coach firms to take part in the protest next week, added: "Even though long hours are not involved we now have to either provide two drivers or leave people isolated on their holiday. The new regulations have totally ignored our industry and have been made without thought or consideration of the damaging implications."

West Midlands MEP Philip Bradbourn, who opposed the new laws, told Mr Parry in a letter that there was little that could now be done.