The Road Haulage Association firmly opposes government plans for the wider roll out of enforcement measures following the trial of an experimental Traffic Regulation Order in Ashford, Kent.
The controversial 18-month operation launched in October 2017 has stopped truckers from parking in lay-bys on a stretch of the A20 – hauliers can be clamped and charged a £150 release fee.
Citing the “success†of the scheme in Kent the Government has said it will “consider further steps to make it easier for local authorities to take action against hauliers who park inappropriately.â€
RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “On one hand the Government admits there’s a chronic shortage of spaces for truckers to park, then on the other they’re giving a green light to councils to target lorry drivers who can’t find somewhere to park. It makes no sense whatsoever.”
“Years of inaction and red tape have left many areas woefully short of lorry parking – not least in Kent following the collapse of the Stanford West plans – leaving many hauliers no choice but to park in lay-bys.
“Government should be pushing for more facilities for truckers to take their statutory breaks not punishing them for the failings of local authorities to provide them. So let’s build the spaces first before we start enforcing against people for not using them.”
