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Spending other folks' brass
Page 28
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IN YORKSHIRE, we have an old saying —"Nowt like spending other folks' brass"— and the £25,000 wasted by Kent Council and others in employing consultants to look at parking problems in Kent is a prime example of this (CM 21 July).
Any international driver or haulier could have told them all they needed to know for nothing—insofar as there are virtually no proper facilities for trucks or their drivers anywhere in the UK, particularly near ports in Kent and other counties.
In [continental] Europe. parking at motorway service stations is free, and there are no petty restrictions.There are also many large rest areas provided on both motorways and national roads that have basic toilet facilities and drinking water, plus plenty of rubbish bins, which are notably absent in most parts of the UK.
Dover Eastern Docks did have reasonable facilities by way of a drivers' cafe", decent showers, and even a washing machine or two, but sadly these have been demolished.
Every lay-by on the A2 has signs prohibiting 'overnight parking', which leaves you open to the exploitation of the limited private sector provision, or running dangerously over time to find a dubious resting place.
Surely it's time for all authorities involved to get their act together for once, and do something positive instead of just wasting money on consultants.
David S Boyes Formerly Rodlane Transport Leeds