Southern Vectis has announced its popular Christmas Lights Tour will not be running this year, but regular services will continue as normal in December.
The Isle of Wight bus operator made the difficult decision to ensure the safety of its customers during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the bus tour won’t be taking place for 2020, Southern Vectis are continuing to sponsor Island Echo’s Light up the Wight competition and map, which will be released to the public on 2nd December.
Richard Tyldsley, General Manager of Southern Vectis, has said:
“We’re very sad not to be running this special tour in 2020 because it really has become a Christmas tradition for many across the island.
“This not a decision we have taken lightly, but we want to help everyone to stay safe and well – and that means urging people not collect together in large groups. On a positive note, we are running our regular services, as normal.
“There are social distancing measure in place on-board our buses, but household groups can still travel together. There are still great views to be had from the upper deck of closed top buses, which operate on many of our routes – so people don’t have to miss out on viewing Christmas lights.
“Our stringent cleaning regimes have been in place for many months now, as well as hand sanitiser, so our customers can be reassured of their comfort and safety whilst on-board. With services now at pre-Covid levels, those who don’t drive – and those who do – can rely on our team to transport them across the island.
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Richard adds:
“Travelling by bus can help ease congestion and improve air quality here, so we’re pleased to be helping those who need to get out-and-about reach their destinations -and are actively encouraging people to leave their cars at home if they can.
“We hope that, next month, current restrictions will be lifted once again – allowing people to visit loved ones, go Christmas shopping, and enjoy socialising throughout the festive season. When that happens, our regular bus services will continue to be there for them.”
For information about Southern Vectis services visit islandbuses.info.
Yet people will allow their children to Robin Hill’s events where they mix and touch items which other children will have done.
Ban all these events, it is ONLY one year, then by next we can all enjoy such again, otherwise ‘some’ won’t be here due to selfishness, bored children and lazy parents.
you happily pick up all those items in the supermarket and purchase them, safe in the knowledge that they have been handled by many people and not cleaned before you bought them.
stop worrying.
People NEED to eat, they don’t NEED to stand in a cold muddy field or woodland gawping at some Chinese made illuminated tat, whilst scoffing a burger or hot dog, for a couple of hours, to then fulfil their bored lives, given it is such a short time yet carries a huge risk of taking it home to kill Granny or someone else’s vulnerable just because the parents ‘wanted to kill a couple of hours’ but ended up killing a couple more CV victims.
Selfish, uncaring and dim. I BET if this CV affected young children they would NOT be there, and be first to deride any older people attending such gathering if their clones and income source from such were put at risk. THINK