The Road Haulage Association has welcomed the government’s commitment to tackle illegal lorry parks but the issue can only be solved by better, legal parks to help drivers who are often desperate to find parking for their legal breaks.
“Finding a safe and secure place to park, either over-night or during statutory rest periods is no easy task,” said RHA chief executive Richard Burnett . Secure lorry parking facilities with appropriate amenities should not be seen as a problem – on the contrary, they are the answer to lorry intrusion in local areas and to improving driver welfare.”
“The news that road minister John Hayes is to conduct a national survey to determine where more parking spaces are needed and his pledge to make sure lorry facilities are planned into new Highways England infrastructure projects, while welcome, is long overdue. “We made the same point to Coalition government ministers in 2010,” Richard Burnett continued.
“We were promised action then but nothing happened. However, we continued to press and we are re-assured by what we are now hearing from John Hayes and Highways England. There is much government can do to facilitate and encourage lorry parking development, which so far it has failed to do.
“The service provided by hauliers is vital to the whole UK economy. Drivers are, for the most part, simply doing their essential work of keeping Britain fed, clothed and in jobs as best they can.”
The RHA has already met with the roads minister to discuss this issue and fully supports local measures to require the industry to use appropriate, secure lorry parks where they are provided and sensibly priced.
The Association has also met with Helen Whately MP to discuss the lorry parking problems specific to Kent. KCC is already working on identifying where more lorry parking spaces are needed in the county.
“A good starting point would be for roads minister John Hayes to give a clear public commitment that this is core business for his department and for Highways England,” concluded Richard Burnett.
