1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186 
URTU fights for improvements
Page 28
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I READ WITH INTEREST John Hunt's letter regarding truckstops and MSAs in the UK ('Who will fight our corner for better facilities?'. CM 27 September).
Although I fully support Mr Hunt's concerns over the pricing and standards of many of these facilities. I would like to make it clear that the United RoadTransport Union (URTU) definitely has not had its "thumb stuck up its backside" on this issue and has been vigorously campaigning for improvements in service areas.
If Mr Hunt was a member of the URTU he would know that one way we have been fighting for improvements is through a long-running campaign in the union's magazine, Wheels, in which we have been asking for members' views and experiences at service areas.
Responses have been printed in the magazine then forwarded to the owners of the relevant service areas to highlight the problems.
As recently as Wheels September 2007 we printed three letters on the increasing cost of overnight parking and I'm presently waiting for the companies involved to respond to the allegations.
The union has also been proactive in supporting projects for new service areas. For example, we are currently in discussions with Eli n tshire Council to urge the authority to approve a proposed truckstop on the A55 in Caerwys to create a high-quality, modern, secure facility with direct access to both sides of the North Wales Expressway.
We have also been working hard to improve public awareness of the issue of service areas, and this has recently included highlighting the situation at all the major Trade Union Congress (TUC) conferences this year.
I can assure Mr Hunt that, as the UK's only union dedicated to serving the interests of workers in road haulage, distribution and logistics, we will continue to be out there fighting for better facilities for professional drivers. James Bawer
Communications manager United Road Transport Union by e-mail