TOURISM bosses have devised a three-year plan to improve their share of the lucrative coach travel market.

Scarborough Borough Council has designed a coach marketing and management strategy following consultation with coach operators and other groups.

Tourism spokesman Councillor David Jeffels said: "Coach travel is extremely important to the borough and so it is vital that we do all we can to make a visit to the area as simple and enjoyable as possible.

"These proposed measures will be very much welcomed by coach operators and I am sure would pay dividends in the future."

The strategy includes, among other things, improving local radio travel news and coach parking literature, providing dedicated coach drop-off facilities at Sandsend and establishing permanent coach parking at the west end of the Marina car-park, in Whitby.

Appropriate routes for coaches in both Scarborough and Whitby will be iden- tified and traffic signing will be implemented where required.

Charges for coach parking in the light of anticipated changes in demand will also be considered.