Support touring vehicles crossing EU borders, says open letter
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
An open letter to the transport secretary Grant Shapps is calling for government support for touring musicians' specialist transport vehicles travelling freely across EU borders
The open letter, signed by over 150 industry players and spearhearded by live events industry collective #WeMakeEvents, points out that without freedom of movement, the UK's creative export ecosystem is at risk.
The letter asks for the government to negotiate exemptions or waivers to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which currently restricts hauliers, and/or to provide short-term workarounds.
Duncan Bell, steering committee member of #WeMakeEvents said: 'The UK is geared up to hold around 85% of Europe’s touring capacity in terms of the live event supply chain and without solutions to the EU Touring obstacles we face, these businesses and individuals are in jeopardy.
'Over one year down the line since tours were taken from under our feet, we are witnessing an imminent destruction of the UK’s position as a supplier of skills and technology to touring. Without urgent intervention, we may well see the invisible army of touring staff have to permanently sacrifice their beloved careers and choose more stable jobs.'