More than a dozen local taxi drivers attended the second year of the training scheme appropriately named ‘National Park Knowledge’ which was held today at the Castle Hotel in Brecon.
This year, the training delivered a spot of role reversal where taxi drivers were put in the passenger seat and taken from Brecon to Merthyr in a bid to see how visitors experience their rides. Drivers heard the stories behind the views on their journey along the A470; how the landscape was formed millions of years ago, the people who have lived and worked along the route, the buildings and their history and the plants and wildlife to be found today. Drivers who have attended the course are now listed on the new National Park Authority transport website www.travelbreconbeacons.info and they will also be able to display a sticker in their vehicles so that passengers can clearly identify them.
With funding provided by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and a partnership of Local Authorities, the course focuses on offering visitors a helpful ride to their destination, with information on local history, the natural landscape, activities and attractions, festivals and events, the main walking routes, guides to the National Park and advice on which car parks are regularly used by walkers.
Once signed up to the scheme, the drivers take a customer care pledge – where in return for the free training they will pass on information gained from the course to advise visitors on how best to enjoy the Park, to ensure high standards of customer care, to pick up and drop off walkers at specific locations in the countryside and to give appropriate assistance to disabled passengers.
Annie Lawrie, Visitor Transport Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “We are working very hard to try and engage with as many service providers as possible in the Bannau Brycheiniog so that our visitors are confident that they can leave their cars at home and still enjoy the services and activities in this area. Our local bus and taxi drivers already provide an excellent service to our visitors but this course will give them the opportunity to make it a memorable and knowledgeable service – which we hope will increase the number of visitors returning.”
For more information on National Park Knowledge please contact Annie Lawrie on 01874 620 476 or email annie.lawrie@breconbeacons.org
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Pictures: Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
Taken at last year’s event – Two local taxi drivers pictured with National Park organisers Mr Richard Tyler and Mrs Annie Lawrie
Editors’ Notes
Companies who attended the course included:
A&A Cabs 01874 622288
ADB Travel 07799 450663
Ace Cabs 07977 551151
Beacons Taxi 07980 020301
Big Mike’s Taxi 07989 998706
Brecon Taxis 01874 623444
Epynt Cabs 07545 251142
Roger Barnard 07974 976784
Taxi Taxi 01874 625522