London, UK: The government has confirmed that 38 truckstops in England will use £6m from the Department for Transport and £10.5m from industry to improve rest areas and parking for lorry drivers,
The measures will create around 430 new parking spaces while upgrades will include new showers and restaurants, as well as better lighting and secure fencing around rest areas.
The government says the money will also help decarbonise the haulage sector by installing new chargepoints to power electric HGVs and solar panels on truckstops to make them as sustainable as possible.
The cash announcemnent follow £15m in joint government and industry funding for similar improvements announced in September last year as part of the fund’s first application window. This takes the total joint investment from the department and the sector to up to £31m. Roads minister Guy Opperman said: “Our lorry drivers are the backbone of a successful economy, ensuring food, goods and crucial medical supplies can get where they need to be, all over the country.
“That’s why it’s only right we leave no stone unturned when it comes to supporting our lorry drivers as part of our plan to grow the economy, and today’s £16.5m in joint government and industry funding will provide them with the safe, spacious and modern facilities they deserve.”
Declan Pang, director of policy and public affairs at the Road Haulage Association, said: “We are delighted to see the government’s match funded grant scheme being awarded to projects which will make a tangible difference to the experiences of lorry drivers and provide much needed additional parking capacity to address the well-known shortage of spaces.”
