Sparse roadside services slammed
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CONDITIONS on a major road from London to the South Coast are attacked in a new FTA report published this week. And • the' association has called for an investigation into the shortfall of facilities on the A2I Hastings to London road in a letter sent, with the report, to Transport Minister William Rodgers.
As the report was published, a Department of Environment and Dip circular — calling on local authorities to take more account of road transport when planning new routes — was also issued.
A survey of A21 revealed that, at times, drivers had to travel up to 11 miles before they were able to park; 25 miles to get dery and up to 25 miles to use a telephone.
The figures relate to one 37.5-mile stretch of the road and a FTA spokesman told CM: "We only picked this road because it was convenient to show what could be found in the way of bad conditions for drivers." Now, the FTA wants to see Government recommendations to make sure that the same kinds of conditions cannot arise, again, in other places.
In the short term, the association has called for more informative signposting for drivers, telling them exactly where facilities are.
The survey covered five points: accommodation, cafes, dery stations, lay-bys and telephones.
And the problems are intensified for drivers operating outside normal working hours when all filling stations on the road are closed by 8prn.
"Action is needed to further investigate the shortfall of facilities determining how this failing has occurred and what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the situation," says the report.
Toilet access
Access to public toilets is also criticised as being inadequate for hgv drivers.
The study of facilities was carried out after meetings between the FTA and DTp officials to discuss the problems of roadside living for drivers. And the FTA says it is a one-off study to prove a point On a random stretch of road.
Anxieties may have been answered with the publication of the Government document "Local Government and Industrial Strategy."
"There should be consultation to ensure that by-passes and local lorry parks are propt rly served by adequate facilities such as toilets, telephones, catering and fuel," the paper declares.
It also criticises some traffic management schemes, which, it says, can be turned to the advantage of industrial and commercial firms without sacrificing other traffic and environmental objectives.
And busmen are not forgotten. Local authority policies should have regard to the need to cater for the journeys to and from work made by local people, says the paper.