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Thousands of pounds per day spent on unsuitable location.
UK – Having met with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Transport Minister Jesse Norman last week to discuss a variety of matters, particularly the well-known shortage of talent in the sector and a post-Brexit Land Transport Agreement, Road Haulage Association (RHA) chief executive, Richard Burnett was also keen to raise the subject of suitable parking facilities for commercial vehicles.
After highlighting the need for urgent action to tackle the shortage of HGV drivers (currently estimated at 45,000) and detailing how government support for the Road to Logistics initiative would benefit both the industry and the economy, came the thorny issue of lorry parks, something the RHA boss pointed out continues to impact on driver welfare and communities, and creates criminal and security issues.
This week however the RHA says it is dismayed to learn that a Freedom of Information request covering the period August 2015 to 15 December 2017 shows the government has spent nearly £6 million to rent Kent’s Manston Airport as an emergency lorry parking area if Operation Stack is used. The tactic was introduced to avoid the chaos of 2015 when lorries en route to the Channel ports were held on the approach roads and the RHA submitted an eleven page dossier to the government highlighting the problems facing HGV drivers, some of whom were stuck at the side of the road for over 24 hours with no proper facilities. Read more
Source: HANDY SHIPPING GUIDE
