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Parking under review
Page 18
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Truck parking in the UK is woeful, which is why last week's report from the Department for Transport, that aims to tackle the issue, has been given a warm welcome.
By Christopher Wattn
TWO STUDIES INTO truck parking in the UK were published by the Department for Transport (DfT) last week.
The first gave details about its strategy to improve truck parking provision in England, while the second gave an overview of the state of parking facilities.
Both studies were welcomed by the trade associations, the shadow minister and by operators (`Government unveils truck parking plans; CM 26 November). It has hardly been a secret that the state of truck parking in the UK is 'not fit for purpose and the DfT has now outlined plans to change this (see panel below).
Plans for action The plans include the production of a national lorry parking provision action plan and the appointment of a DfT project manager, responsible for implementing and tracking the progress of the strategy although the DOhas yet to confirm when this appointment will take place.
Chrys Rampley, manager for infrastructure, environment and business affairs at the Road Haulage Association. said of the plans: "From little acorns. mighty oaks grow It is a great start to have something that is coming from the top down. Hopefully, [the strategA will be picked up by local authorities "This document sets out the means and objectives and, at last, it gives focus. Everything has been piecemeal so far, so, hopefully, there may be some better co-ordination."
Rampley adds that she believes the General Election next year will not materially change any of the proposals contained within the report, because the DIT has committed to the volume of work required to tackle the problem. However, Robert Goodwill, shadow minister for transport, says: "This is a sixpart process; part one is identifying the problem. I would welcome the fact that 12 years into a Labour government, they have identified the problem, but I would worry why it has taken them so long.
"The idea that, at the end of a day's driving, you can suddenly find a secure truckstop is 'cloud cuckoo land: I used to drive chemical tankers and I know that facilities on the Al are sparse. By-andlarge, people park on the lay-bys."
Encouraging workers Goodwill says that the policy, as outlined by the DtT would "certainly be picked up onif the Conservative Party were to win the next election, adding that improved truckstop facilities could be instrumental in encouraging more people to work in the industry.
As far as the timescale for implementing the truck parking action plan is concerned, a DtTspokeswoman tells CM that it "has already started': She adds: "An updated version of the Truckstop Guide, produced by the Highways Agency, has been released, and work has also begun on producing a range of best practice documents for key stakeholders including operators, drivers and local authorities."
In addition, the D17 confirms that a formal consultation on the existing policy on roadside facilities is expected to be released "shortly': It is described as a key policy document, and the DIT believes a review of the policy has the potential to make the development and retention of existing lorry parks easier.
Furthermore. a comprehensive audit of existing facilities and the associated supply and demand is likely to start early in the new year. We all wait with bated breath, •