Draft Freight Strategy Consultation

7.0 Rest facilities

Formal and informal parking for large goods vehicles and associated facilities are essential to support the efficient and safe movement of freight in Central Bedfordshire. The EU and AETR rules on drivers' hours were introduced in 2006 to ensure that drivers of vehicles used for the carriage of goods have sufficient rest periods. This includes a 45-minute break during the day (which can be split) and 11 hours rest overnight (which can be reduced to 9 hours on 3 occasions in a week).

7.1 On-site rest facilities

In 2022 the Department for Transport commissioned a national survey of lorry parking on and near to the strategic road network. The study showed that nationally lorry parking at on-site facilities (service areas and truck stops) is nearly at critical level, having reached 83% utilisation. Central Bedfordshire falls within the East of England area, which according to the study is at a critical level of utilisation for on-site parking, with utilisation ranging between 92% and 100%.

There are different types of on-site rest facilities for large goods vehicle drivers in the Central Bedfordshire area, including independent truck stops, and service areas adjacent to motorways and trunk roads. The types of facilities provided varies, but as a minimum all have toilets and showers, with many having other facilities such as hot food provision, Wi-Fi, washing machines, and security measures.

• The provision of lorry parking and waiting facilities for all new industrial and commercial units, including quarries and waste management facilities must be made on site unless suitable alternative HGV parking and waiting facilities are available within the locality.
• The Council will promote the need for further provision of formal long stay (overnight) rest facilities for large goods vehicle drivers in appropriate locations with suitable facilities, particularly along the A1 corridor, and will consider the requirement for such provision through the allocations process in the new Local Plan.
• The Council are also committed to protecting existing rest facilities.

7.2 Lay-bys

In addition to the on-site rest facilities, there are also roadside lay-bys located throughout the authority area. Lay-bys are available to large goods vehicle drivers in addition to other road users. Whilst they do provide a place to stop, and some may have food vans, they are not particularly suitable for overnight rest breaks due to their proximity to fast-moving traffic and lack of facilities.

• Where large goods vehicles are parking overnight in lay-bys that are part of the public highway, and this generates complaints from others (such as complaints relating to noise, or waste left behind), waiting restrictions could be introduced to prevent overnight parking and / or to limit the length of time a large goods vehicle can park for.
• A development proposal that involves removing or amending a lay-by should look to re-provide the lay-by as close to the existing as possible. Only in exceptional circumstances will a lay-by not need to be re-provided (for example when a road has been downgraded and evidence is collected such as an occupancy survey which demonstrates low usage of the lay-by).

7.3 Parking on the public highway

In some cases, large goods vehicle drivers may choose to park on the public highway for their rest period, most commonly in industrial areas. Providing that a driver is parking their vehicle in accordance with the Highway Code, it is not creating a road safety concern and the location is not near to residential properties this is acceptable for short breaks throughout the day, however a lack of facilities makes this unsuitable for overnight rest breaks.

Where large goods vehicles are parking on the public highway, measures could be taken to prevent this happening, particularly in locations that cause a road safety concern, when close to residential properties or where there are issues with noise or waste being left. Further information on the types of restrictions that could be implemented can be found in the On-street Parking Management Strategy.

7.4 Actions related to rest facilities

Action 2 – Rest facilities

1. The provision of lorry parking and waiting facilities for all new industrial and commercial units, including quarries and waste management facilities must be made on site unless suitable alternative HGV parking and waiting facilities are available within the locality.
2. The Council will promote the need for further provision of formal long stay (overnight) rest facilities for large goods vehicle drivers in appropriate locations with suitable facilities, particularly along the A1 corridor, and will consider the requirement for such provision as part of the new Local Plan.
3. The Council will safeguard existing lay-by facilities for large goods vehicle drivers to use for short rest breaks.
4. The Council will continue to investigate and respond to complaints relating to large goods vehicles parking on the public highway (including lay-bys) which leads to road safety concerns, environmental damage, or noise concerns in residential areas.