Roadside facilities get government boost
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced investment of up to £100 million from industry and government in improved roadside facilities and rest areas around England’s strategic road network.
Truck-stop and road service operators were invited to bid for a share of £52.5 million of government money to match-fund site operators’ own improvements to driver facilities.
Applications can be made for up to £315,000 per site, and the DfT will match-fund up to 50 per cent of the capital cost of an improvement project for small operators, or up to 25 per cent for larger operators.
Areas eligible for improvement include welfare facilities such as toilets, showers and rest areas, and security measures such as lighting systems, CCTV, monitoring equipment and secure fencing, as well as additional HGV parking capacity.
Grants are for capital improvement projects only, such as construction and refurbishment work, security equipment and installation, architecture and design, and fixtures and fittings.
Applications must be submitted by 24 February.
The new money is in addition to the £20m match-funding launched by National Highways earlier this year.
Announcing the scheme, the roads minister Richard Holden said: “Hauliers and drivers are critical to keep our economy motoring. But for decades, our truckers have had a raw deal when it comes to decent roadside facilities.
“This is why I’m so proud that our government is going to provide match funding support to the industry to boost drivers’ welfare, safeguard road safety and make sure driving an HGV is a really attractive career option by providing the facilities and respect our lorry drivers deserve.”
The news follows a recent report commissioned by the DfT on the deteriorating capacity for overnight parking in the vicinity of England’s strategic road network (SRN).
The survey found that the situation had worsened since a previous 2017 study, with a rise in utilisation of spaces at on-site facilities such as motorway service areas and truckstops outstripping a 12 per cent capacity increase.
Overall utilisation of on-site parking spaces within five kilometres of the SRN was up from 76 per cent five years ago to 83 per cent this year, despite available capacity having risen by more than 1,700 spaces.
National Highways customer experience director, Pete Martin, said: “We continue to work closely with operators of roadside facilities to help improve the standard of parking and other amenities they provide on motorways and major A-roads and are excited to see the results of this investment.
“We want all road users to reach their destination safely and encourage everyone, from those who drive as a profession through to people travelling on holiday or for leisure purposes, to plan ahead before setting off and to take regular breaks.”
Kate Jennings, director of policy at Logistics UK, added: “Logistics UK’s members and their employees deserve access to hygiene and rest facilities enjoyed by workers in other parts of the economy, and it is good news that funding is becoming available to help improve the quality and safety of amenities already in place – a swift resolution will now be needed to ensure that the shortfall of lorry parking and necessary facilities can be constructed and opened to support our key workers in the course of their daily travels.”
A spokesperson from Snap, operator of the smart payment system for drivers and fleet operators, said: “Enhancing driver welfare and ensuring that hauliers have somewhere clean and secure to park their vehicles is a leading priority of our business – and the £52.5m government funding is a vital step in giving drivers the facilities they deserve.
“DfT has Snap’s ongoing support on their mission to improve driver facilities – with Snap Access & Security aiming to assist by securing HGV locations through industry-leading security packages.”
