Single Article - The Association of European Vehicle Logistics

77 MPs sign open letter calling on government to do more to boost HGV driver facilities

trans.info — 2023-04-26

Land transportation

The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has been shared by the Road Haulage Association on Twitter.

In the open letter itself, the signatories welcome the actions in the UK Government’s Future of Freight plan. However, concerns were also raised about there being little information about plans to increase the number of lorry parking spaces.

The signatories stress that there is an estimated shortage of 11,000 lorry parking places in the UK, and that established facilities of key routes are often at capacity.

“This situation leads to drivers taking rest periods in insecure locations such as laybys and industrial estates often. There they have no access to basic facilities, and no protection from criminals looking to steal valuable loads and fuel,” reads one fragment of the letter.

The letter then calls on the UK Government to do the following:

Establish a cross-departmental taskforce to review existing driver facilities and work with industry, operators and local authorities on a viable long-term solution to increase available facilities across the country.
Reform the existing planning framework, working with local authorities to ensure that appropriate parking plans are developed to meet industry needs.
Commit to the increased funding commitment for roadside facilities, looking at both quantity and quality.