Glasgow truck park closes three years ahead of plan
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chris.tindattlarbi.co.uk THE ROAD HAULAGE Association (RHA) has expressed surprise and regret that a large truck park near Glasgow has closed down several years earlier than expected.
Doubts were lirst raised over the future of the Europa Truckstop in Lesmahagow, near junction 10 of the M74, after it was bought by Tesco last year.
'the supermarket applied for planning permission to build a store, petrol station and car park on the site, which had space for 140 11GVs.
However, the RHA thought it would have taken anything up to three years before the site closed to truck drivers for good.
RHA head of policy Phil Flanders. who chairs a sub-group of the Scottish Freight Logistics Advisory Group, says the site closure will he "high up on the agenda" at a meeting this week.
The sub-group's remit is to review parking facilities and make recommendations to the government.
Flanders says: "We knew Tesco had bought the site, hut didn't think it would close so soon.
-It's the same all over Scotland; there's not enough truck parking and not enough demand to make something commercially viable.
"A lot of drivers are not getting money to pay for parking."
A Tesco spokesman says of the swift devlopment: "We have started pre-commencement work on the site and we are looking to start construction shortly with a view to opening the store towards the end of this year."
• The Scottish Freight Logistics Advisory Group has questionnaires for employers and drivers to answer about truck parking provisions in Scotland.
The employer questionnaire can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7.87RB21) The driver questionnaire can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZLSQZK5