Please, just give me a sign
Page 24

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WITH ALLTI IL adverse publicity that the Nightowl truckstops have received recently,1 can only sympathise with their plight.
1 own and run a truckstop at Junction 23 on the Ml. Over the past 15 years, since it opened.1 have pleaded with the Department for Transport (I have even written to the Prime Minister) for a simple sign on the motorway. But it seems they would rather give signs for anything such as a zoo, pleasure park or a space centre, than for a purpose-built, well-run truckstop.
At the moment there is no real return running these establishments; you have to try to produce a meal for around £4. including VAT. and it is very difficult to recruit and maintain staff.
We also get less than Ip/litre for dispensing diesel, whilst new diesel pumps can cost between £7,000-10,000.And the computer systems are changed frequently. so there is absolutely no money in doing that.
You also get vandalism from a small percentage of the drivers who seem to take great delight in smashing up toilets and dropping litter everywhere.
I certainly hope that Nightowl comes out of receivership and carries on with its business, but unfortunately, at the present time. Jean see no real return on the capital invested.
Alan Sherwood Proprietor
Junction 23 Lorry Park