DfT to target truck parking shortage
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By Chris Tindall A DEPARTMENT for Transport study into HGV parking shows that demand heavily outstrips supply in the east and south east of the country.
The govenment-commissioned audit will form the basis for local authorities and investors to target areas where HGV parking is most needed.
However, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) describes the results as a “snapshot” .
It adds that it hopes the audit is not used by some planning departments as evidence that lorry parking is not a priority in their region. The audit covers 280 sites across England and found there were 13,708 lorries parking overnight, with on-site space for just 13,173.
But when analysed by region then a picture emerges of chronic undersupply in pockets of the country.
The eastern region had the highest utilisation rate (80%) and yet there were still 615 trucks parked in lay-bys and on industrial estates.
The same is broadly true in the south east, with a 71% utilisation of on-site parking and 590 extra HGVs parked up unsecurely. Crime was also highest in these areas. RHA crime manager Chrys Rampley says: “It’s an audit; it tells you where they are and how many spaces they have, but it doesn’t tell you about the security or facilities there, which is a missed opportunity.
“I think it will help local authorities, but I’m hoping it won’t be detrimental to hauliers by becoming an issue for planning permission.” The report can be found here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ lorry-parking-study