Opinion – Why we need more safe and secure lorry parking

Opinion – Why we need more safe and secure lorry parking

By Ashton Cull, RHA Senior Public Affairs Lead

We were delighted last week with outline planning permission being granted for up to 200 lorry parking spaces off the M26 in Kent.

We backed service station operator, Moto’s appeal against the local council’s decision to block the move, which means they’re a step closer to constructing a desperately needed secure 24-hour truck stop facility which will also feature a fuel station and an amenity building.

This could be a significant development for truckers operating in Kent, where there is currently a shortage of 1,000 safe and secure lorry parking spaces – it’s 11,000 nationally.

Not so positive is the news that a lorry park in North West Leicestershire will be shutting its doors shortly amid safety concerns. The planning inspectorate has ruled that Bardon Truck Park off junction 22 on the M1 must close with the current access area found to be unsafe for people using the next door pub.

According to National Highways, North West Leicestershire is the district with the highest need for more safe, secure HGV parking in all of England. The impact the closure will have on the owner, drivers and operators has been raised with the local MP, councillors and Department for Transport.

We’re working with the owner to urge North West Leicestershire District Council to help facilitate alternative safe and secure parking for lorry drivers.

More safe and secure lorry parking and better standards at truck stops are an RHA campaigning priority. It's key focus of our asks of government as they embark on the Spending Review https://www.rha.uk.net/Portals/0/PolicyCampaigning/spendingreviewfinalversiondoc.pdf?ver=v5tmabj1fRnOpTcIngOFnw%3d%3d over the months ahead.

There’s an urgent need for continued investment in roadside facilities, particularly in areas of high lorry parking demand and high freight crime rates – and truckers agree.

Transport Focus found that half of HGV drivers asked said they were dissatisfied with the quality and the quantity of facilities across the country. Poor facilities are a barrier to attracting and retaining drivers – and given we’ll need 200,000 more truckers over the next five years it’s vital we work together to change that equation and help drive economic growth.