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The truck stops... where?
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The state of drivers' facilities and the scarcity of secure parking across the UK raises the question: just who is responsible for truck parking?
Words: Roanna Avison NO OTHER ISSUE is guaranteed to get the industry talking like the lack of lorry parking facilities, and recent cases of councils rejecting plans for truckstops only add to the perception that there is a lack of understanding about the need for such facilities.
So far this year, two plans for truckstops on the A55 have been rejected (Hauliers slam lack of truckstop investment', CM 12 February) and a lorry park nearThurrock has been refused (Truckstops needed near ports'. CM 26 February), while in the past two weeks, councillors have said they will oppose a development on the All.
On the flip side, Suffolk County Council says it recognises there's a lack of facilities for truck drivers in the county and is committed to providing secure sites for lorry parking (Suffolk council to prioritise safe, secure truck parking', CM 26 February).
In Herefordshire, a 25-truck facility has been given the go-ahead at Junction 26 of the M25. In each case, the need for drivers to have somewhere safe and secure to park up and take their required breaks is indisputable. However, in some regions, environmental issues and the views of the local residents seem to take precedence.
The problem appears to be a lack of guidance from central government, which leaves local councils to make their own decisions on how important truck parking is to the local transport strategy. This leads to inconsistencies, with some local authorities keen to ensure there are safe, secure places for drivers to take their breaks, while others appear to have scant regard for the needs of the drivers.
A closer look at national policy shows why such differences exist across the UK. Put simply, national policy doesn't cover the whole of the UK; it's split into England, Wales and Scotland. Although both the Welsh Assembly and Scottish government do admit they take advice from the Department for Transport (DfT) on board they are not obliged to do so.
So what does that mean in terms of lorry parking strategy in the UK?
The Dfr is currently working to pull together all the research that has been done on lorry parking with a view to developing an action plan.
A DfT spokesman says: "The D1T understands the importance of parking facilities in enabling drivers and operators to work safely and efficiently. That is why we are undertaking a research project on the provision of lorry parking in England.
"The project is being undertaken to consolidate existing research, which will lead to the clarification of roles across the public and private sectors."
The research is due to be completed this spring, and the spokesman says it will contribute to the production of an action plan on lorry parking provision for implementation from 2009/10.
Good news for the industry, but in the interim still leaves lorry parking decisions with local councils meaning inconsistencies will continue. And DfT guidance might not necessarily cover the whole of the UK.
At present, the Welsh Assembly includes its aspirations for truck parks in its One Wales: Connecting the nation The Wales Freight Strategy document. This cites providing parking and facilities for road freight transport as a long-term objective, with the creation of a consistent national policy described as an opportunity to consider. However, the Assembly admits current provision is patchy and the quality mixed.
A Welsh Assembly spokesman admits there are environmental and safety issues if drivers are not given proper rest areas. The document highlights the need for a national and regional policy because "current arrangements may not be fully adequate?
Again this appears to be positive for the industry, but as the recent cases on the A55 prove, the Welsh Assembly still has a long way to go before this message trickles down to local authorities.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government does not have any guidelines on truck parking. A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government says there is no national policy for truck parking in Scotland. Instead, local authorities in Scotland are expected to devise their own strategy for truck parking.
This in itself shows the difficulties of trying to create a national truck parking policy. With three different government organisations involved, it is never going to be simple, but at least there are some positive noises coming from the DIT and the Welsh Assembly. •