Room for improvement?
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A DfT consultation into the state of truck parking facilities has just closed. What can the industry expect Whitehall to do to bring services up to scratch?
Words: Roger Brown FOR MANY YEARS hauliers have expressed concern about the dire lack of adequate truck parking facilitie.s in the UK. Everyone is familiar with the situation where a driver is forced to park in a lay-by or industrial estate for the night, either because there is no facility nearby or because the one available is simply not good enough.
However, it seems the problem is finally being taken seriously in the corridors of Whitehall.
The government has just closed a three-month consultation with the road transport industry over the future of truck parking facilities in the UK.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA) were among those who supplied their views on issues such as na
tional lorry parking demand requirements to 2019; how lorry parking provision can be defined at national, regional and local levels; possible best practice guidelines; how new secure truck parking developments can be encouraged and promoted; and awareness of existing lorry parking facilities increased
The truck parking czar'
The lindings are due to be published in early October. after which a person who could be labelled 'the truck parking czar' an as yet unnamed senior Department for Transport (DtT) civil servant will oversee the creation of a national lorry parking provision strategy.
However, Dai Owen. owner of JD Owen Transport. in Mold. Clwyd, who has also been seeking permission to run a site on the A55 in Flintshire. says drivers in the UK lack even the most basic rest facilities.
"We are completely behind the rest of Europe on this, our drivers are unable to have a wash, shower or go to the toilet; it's a desperate situation. My biggest concern is that it' lorry parks don't get the proper support, more and more will close.
-We desperately need a proper truck parking site in north Wales to serve the traffic coming to and from the port of Holyhead, there is just nothing here but lay-bys," he says.
According to Bob Terris, MD of Southampton firm Meachers Global Logistics, the problems behind lorry parking provision are locally caused. but the issues are replicated nationwide. He says that the shortage of land around Southampton docks. close to where the company is based, makes it hard for the port operators to provide parking, and says there is a "major problemwith lorry parking facilities in the area.
"Land previously used by independent lorry park operators has been developed for low-cost housing,Terris explains. "The local motorway service areas arc over-subscribed at night and the overspill goes to the industrial estates where there are no facilities for the drivers.The availability and cost of land in this area makes it uneconomical for parks to be operated on a commercial basis,
Driver fatigue is dangerous
Peter Larner, MD of SucklingTransport, in West Thurrock, Essex, says there arc too many not-in-my-backyard residents of towns and villages in the UK campaigning against lorry parks.
He says: "Driver fatigue is responsible for more road deaths than drink driving so we need to provide adequate rest areas. A driver, for example. having completed a night time delivery at a site in Watford, where the facilities are closed overnight because a lot of fuel deliveries are now done in the consignee's absence, has only one service area South Mitnms on his return to Cory ton in Essex.
"South Minims, like Clackett Lane. is full in the HC;V parking area every night, so drivers cannot find a place to rest if they feel tired.
The RHA has argued strongly that rateable values for site owners should be held or reduced to make it more attractive for them to invest in security features such as CCTV, lighting and fencing (CM 8 July).
Stuart Tanton. owner of the threeacre Dock lands Truckstop in Goole, East Yorks, supports the RHA's stance.
"The situation is ridiculous, if I decide to concrete my yard. this can double my business rates," he says.
Karl Rout. manager at the Orwell Crossing Lorry Park in Suffolk, there should be large service stat style signs directing drivers to all ti parking facilities.
Currently, a lorry park is entitle, service station type signage if it prov fuel facilities and is open every except Boxing Day.
He adds: "Foreign drivers coulc confused by the brown coloured s in place and not even realise they anywhere near a secure truck stop a safe parking area and good facil where you can get a meal."
System needs to be faste
According to Chrys Rampley. R security and infrastructure manager planning system needs to be shake] to prevent local authorities deral parking proposals."We have seen a take eight years to get plan: permission Basildon which ope in March 2010 and not many firms withstand that.
"Often there appears to be no lac interest from potential developers sites, but they fall at the first hure getting planning permission."
Rampley argues that urban provi of truckstops, especially in Londo often "very poor and deteriorati both for overnight parking statutory rest breaks.
Malcolm Bingham, FTA heac road network management pc believes the current test for allou parking spaces at the roadside, b; on the average ratio of pas vehicles, trucks and cars ove 24-hour period. is -clearly flawed".
"This does not give sun weighting to lorries requiring overr parking it only recognises the neec short breaks, which isn't the real i here." he explains.