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Parting: 2003 space odyssey
Page 14
Page 15
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• Mention the word truck parking to most hauliers and drivers, and you'll probably find that it's not one of their favourite subjects. Parking facilities have been a bone of contention for hauliers for as long as anyone can remember; and the situation just seems to be getting worse.
The Highways Agency recently admitted that it is seeking to open more truckstops in a bid to tackle the over-subscription and the poor standards that continue to haunt the existing facilities (CM 13-19 March).
And the catch? It would like a contribution from the haulage industry to go ahead with its plan.
This move is seen as 'papering over the cracks' by some in the industry, who believe that the whole issue should be addressed more closely. This doesn't just mean more truckstops, but improvements to sub-standard Motorway Service Areas (MSAs) and an increase in facilities provided by local authorities.
Lack of parking at some MSAs has become so bad in certain areas that trucks are forced to park on the hard shoulder, unable to enter the facilities due to congestion, yet forced to break their journey due to legal rest requirements.
The problem on the M25 has become so bad even the government has admitted that parking facilities are full to bursting point. So why are MSA parking facilities SO Oyersubscribed?
Allocation
Part of the problem can be traced to the Highways Agency. It is responsible for the allocation of parking spaces for each MSA. The current procedure for calculating HGV parking spaces is to work out 0.35% of HGV annual average daily traffic flow past the MSA 15 years after opening. However, this method is now looking seriously dated, as vehicle numbers have dramatically increased in recent years. This means that service stations currently under construction will have Inherent parking faults built in.
The new M6 Toll Road Services, for example, has 51 spaces for HGVs. This number is looking pretty far off the mark considering the new road is designed to let drivers bypass Birmingham and the M5/M6 congestion hotspot, and so will be a popular route with truckers.
Jack Crossfield of Drivers Action Movement (DAM) has conducted research into the problem, and forwarded his findings to the Transport Minister John Speller. He says: "We conducted our research in 2001 and, even then, the parking situation was out of control. It's disgraceful that we are required by law to take breaks, yet are not provided with adequate facilities to adhere to this," Crossfield adds that MSAs and truckstops are invariably completely full most weeknights. The traditional roadside cafes with overnight parking have all but disappeared, leav ing HGV drivers to fend for themselves.
'The new breed of independent service station is indifferent to drivers' needs. Yet they're quick enough to take our money.* One man who has experienced the problem first-hand is driver Ally Shaw. He had to park in the coach park of a Roadchef MSA to take his statutory break (CM 9-15 March). Other trucks were already parked in the coach area and he only stopped for 15 minutes. A month later, he received a 160 penalty notice. He says he was not issued a ticket directly and that this highlights the exploitation of truck drivers at such facilities.
"Parking areas are becoming so full that drivers have to work through their breaks to reach a suitable rest point. When the EU rules come in [for the Working Time Directive], it will be 10 times worse. Our roads are not equipped to cope." He adds: "The government should be planning for the effects of new driver rules before they accept them. In France, for example, there are clean facilities every 10 miles for truckers," Away from the motorway network, local authorities are officially responsible for the provision of 'out of town' parking. But they are not bound by law, offering these facilities at their discretion, and critics say there is a general lack of responsiveness to the issue.
Closed
Many truck parks have closed over time, and those that do exist offer little or no facilities such as toilets, washrooms and food outlets.
Crossfield contacted 337 local authorities regarding the issue of truck parking; 190 responded and only 84 said they provide truck parking, although many provide no signposting to the location or on-site facilities such as toilets and washrooms.
He says in his report: "All local authorities need HGVs to deliver essential materials and collect finished goods within the area.
"A general trend has emerged that 'it's not our concern' to accommodate HGVs overnight. Some local authorities justified this position by intimating that there was a place 'somewhere down the road'."
One exception to the rule is Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire. It has provided parking since 1986 and runs the first truck park in the country to achieve secured status as part of the Secured Car Park Scheme.
The scheme was initiated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (AC P0) and is carried out through external independent assessment. Councillor David Payne, cabinet member responsible for environment and transportation for Kirklees, says: "We have a duty to provide parking places that are as safe, secure and well-managed as possible."
But it's not all doom and gloom. Pat Nicholson of the Professional Drivers Association (PDA) has recently been involved in talks with both Roadchef and Moto, which provide MSAs around the country. She says that their discussions have been positive.
"We have found the companies willing to listen to our complaints. They have taken these on board and promised that they will take the matter further." In fact, senior executive for Roadchef John Greenwood has taken up the offer from the PDA to visit MSAs in Europe for comparison and research. For authenticity he will be accompanying a truck driver on his route (CM 3-9 April).
Parking issues
June will see the launch of the British Parking Association (BPA), an official body that will lobby the government over parking issues. Chrys Rampley, infrastructure manager at the RHA, is also involved in the BPA. She believes it will give the cause a much-needed and united voice.
Rampley says: "The BPA will be lobbying the government for more secure parking We will be recommending that parking needs are taken into consideration when industrial estates and warehousing developments are planned.
"At the moment, there is no such requirement, leaving drivers to fend for themselves".