A new action plan
to improve lorry parking in England was announced today by
Transport Minister Paul Clark.
The new strategy will help raise standards at existing truck
stops and tackle shortages of lorry parking facilities.
The Department has also updated the Truck Stop Guide in
conjunction with the Highways Agency to ensure that drivers and
operators have the most up to date information on the facilities
available to them.
Paul Clark said:
"The haulage industry is vital to the economy of the UK
and we want to ensure that the industry has the facilities it
needs to operate safely and efficiently. The provision of high
quality parking for lorry drivers is vital in ensuring that
drivers are able to take a break and are fit to drive.
"We hope that providing new guidance to councils,
helping specific shortages to be identified and encouraging best
practice among operators will lead to an improvement in the
quality and consistency of facilities available to lorry
drivers."
The Department will be developing guidance for operators and
local councils to help improve the consistency and quality of
services offered to drivers. In addition, the Department wants to
encourage new lorry parking facilities by increasing coverage of
them in local and national planning documents and by allowing them
to be accessed directly from the motorway.
The lorry parking strategy has been developed in consultation
with stakeholders and the Department will continue to work with
them to ensure that the plan is delivered effectively.
Notes to Editors
1. The Department for Transport's Strategy for Lorry
Parking Provision in England can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road.
2.
Also published today is the Lorry Parking Baseline Report: The
Current Situation. This can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road.
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