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Government unveils truck parking plans
Page 6
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By Christopher Walton, Jo Bourke and Roger Brown THE DEPARTMENT for Transport (DfT) has unveiled plans that it claims will improve lorry parking provision in England and raise standards at existing sites — but has not committed to a timetable for doing so.
In its Strategy fir Lorry Parking Provision in England, published this week, the DfT says there is a need for a strategic approach to be taken that looks at the issues of truck parking on a national scale, and it is right that the DfT takes responsibility.
The next step will be the production of a national lorry parking provision strategy/action plan, and a DfT project manager will be appointed to be responsible for implementing and tracking the progress of the strategy.
The strategy has six objectives: • Investigate lorry parking demand requirements 10 2019.
• Define lorry parking provision at national, regional and local levels • Produce best practice guidelines.
• Increase awareness of existing lorry parking sites • Improve the stability of the lorry parking business and encourage new developments.
• Encourage the development of secure truck parking sites Transport minister Paul Clark says: "We hope that providing new guidance to councils, helping specific shortages to be identified and encouraging best practice among operators will lead to an improvement in the quality and consistency of facilities available to drivers" Road Haulage Association director of policy Jack Semple welcomes the report: "There are no quick-fix solutions, but the announcement gives important profile and commitment to making progress."
While Malcolm Bingham, head of road traffic management policy at the Freight Transport Association, adds: "This DtT strategy represents a great opportunity to recognise the need for safe and secure parking and, with proper hacking, will give drivers dignity."
However, those who use truck parks have been quick to question the details of some of the government's intentions.
Bob Terris, managing director of Meachers Global Logistics, says the shortage has been exacerbated by the government developing low-cost housing on land that was previously used for parking.
"The only areas available are motorway service areas, which are over-subscribed. Industrial estates are now congested at night, which hampers operations for the paying tenants, but there is no policing, security or driver facilities."
Dai Owen, owner of JD Owen Transport, says: "If what the government is saying is true, it's the best news I've heard in a while."
Shadow transport minister MP Robert Goodwill told CM that if the party is elected next year "we would hope to pick [the issue] up and run with it': FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT: 1. [ winavv.roadtransport.com