We believe there is much that can be done to improve facilities ...'
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John Taylorson, Freight Parks
disaster," says Sheriff.
"Another thing that worried us was the possibility that 'greasy spoons' would open up with motorway signs. The Government has recognised this and has set sensible minimum requirements. So they have given us a level playing field."
Granada will be taking advantage of deregulation to open further sites and is looking for suitable locations on the M20, M11 and M2. The company's latest facility is due to open in the summer of 1994 on the M40 at Ardley. It will be the first to be built under the new regime. The site will be able to accommodate up to 100 LGVs and Granada, which has been criticised by hauliers for favouring cars, insists that commercial traffic will always be part of the equation. "Our commitment will continue for commercial operators despite the large cost of providing LGV parking. Each LGV parking space costs £10,000 to build," says Sheriff.
Forte, which runs 24 sites including the Welcome Break MSA network, says it is generally happy with the Government's new approach which it says will give motorway users more choice: "We believe deregulation, within certain rules, to be of greater benefit than total deregulation because it ensures that MSAs will still guarantee provision of 24-hour access to free parking and toilet facilities," says the company.
Off-motorway truckstop operator Freight Parks gives deregulation the thumbs-up and sees it as an opportunity to improve the trucker's lot: "We believe there is much that can be done to improve facilities for truckers," says John Taylorson, Freight Parks' director of strategic development.
"We are very interested in the possibilities which will present themselves as a result of this policy. We will be using it to develop food service and allied facilities which are more in keeping with trucker's needs. This can only be good for transport operators." says Taylorson.
RoadChef, which operates nine MSAs, is currently developing a new site on the M25 which is due to open in late summer of 1993. Company chairman Tim Ingram Hill says the decision to deregulate has dispelled the uncertainty which surrounded the future of MSAs: "We welcome the Government's decision to place planning in the hands of local authorities. RoadChef will be seeking out new sites and our aim is to maintain the high standards we have set."
The DOT guidelines allow for smaller MSAs to be constructed which may not carry all the facilities presently offered by the major sites which could mean truckers getting a raw deal. "Truckers will always be welcome but not all sites will carry all facilities," says Ingram Hill. "Market forces will determine how frequently special facilities for truckers will be constructed. Features such as showers and driver's rest rooms will be very much determined by location."
Another feature of deregulation could be the arrival of high-street names such as McDonalds or Burger King on the motorway scene.
McDonalds was one of the companies which were asked to respond to the consultation document. "We are looking and are very interested," says the company, although it does not envisage running any MSAs itself. Involvement would come as part of a package developed with service station operators.
"We gave the DOT a very favourable response," says a company spokiesman. "This fits in with our restaurant expansion in this country, from the high street to the drive-through and now the possibility of the motorway. "At the moment," he adds, "it is wait and see what happens and then we will look at the areas which will suit our particular business needs."
MBurger King says it is interested in offering its fast food service on motorway sites although it is 11114 not seeking any planning permissions at the moment. "In principle we are interested in developing this kind of site. The more choice the consumer has the better and on the motorway the truck driver is as much a consumer as a car driver. Deregulation will add to the mix and give people a better choice," says the company. El by Paul Newman