Clacket Lane operator defends rise in parking price
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By Roger Brown
THE OPERATOR of Clacket Lane services has defended the recent HGV parking price increase at the site, saying the rise is in line with “the market rate”.
Roadchef was responding to criticism of its decision to increase the cost of 24-hour HGV parking at the facility between junctions 5 and 6 of the M25 – including meal voucher – from £25 to £30.
A Roadchef spokesman says: “At present, HGV drivers can park overnight at the site for £26, while for an additional £4 they can receive a £10 meal voucher.
“We believe this is in line with market rates.” However, Keith Luetchford, MD at Tilbury, Essex-based haulier Arcese UK, says: “The increase cannot be justiied.
“We are instructing our drivers to ind an alternative or suitable place to park if they do not have the driving hours to get back to Tilbury.
“Everyone needs a rest break in a secure parking area, but £30 is far too much.” Robert Wilcox, MD at Massey Wilcox in Chilcompton, Somerset, thinks £15 to park overnight at Clacket Lane with a meal voucher would be “just about bearable”, but says even £20 is too much.
Andy Boyle, MD at Herefordshire-based ABE Ledbury, adds: “We need a strong network of secure, value-for-money, patrolled, clean facilities with adequate wash facilities for drivers.” Chrys Rampley, security and in frastructure manager at the RHA, believes Clacket Lane is the most expensive service area in the UK for truck drivers to park.
She adds: “There is a captive audience at this site, with very little attention given to drivers, and there is no incentive for Roadchef to provide better security.
“The rise is deinitely not in line with the market rate,” Rampley says.