Four stopping spots in northern Lincolnshire are getting cash injections to make life more comfortable for lorry drivers.
The stops in Grimsby, Immingham and Scunthorpe have been chosen to receive funding aimed at improving facilities for HGV drivers. It is hoped that this will encourage more truckers to stay on and more newcomers to train to join them.
In total, £8m has been handed out to 39 roadside facilities across England. The cash will pay for everything from better food areas, to improved toilet provision for the growing number of female drivers.
Grimsby Truck Stop and Wash, on the South Humberside Industrial Estate, will receive £160,000 for improvements. New facilities at the site will include improved washing facilities and a café, while capacity is due to increase from 30 trucks to 41.
Scunthorpe Truck Stop, run by Blaxiom Ltd, has been awarded £187,000 for security improvements. Immingham Lorry Park has received an unspecified amount for security, while Esso Toll Bar petrol station, in New Waltham, has been awarded cash for improvements to parking.
MP Lia Nici said the cash would help the country to “properly look after HGV drivers”. Northern Lincolnshire relied on “massive logistics services” for businesses and suppliers and it was vital to ensure there were proper facilities for drivers, she added.
The Great Grimsby MP said she planned to visit Grimsby Truck Stop and Wash to find out more about the improvement plans.
Hauliers are required to take mandatory breaks and rest periods. Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft said: “The haulage sector is so important to our economy, transporting the goods we all rely on across the country, and being a lorry driver is an important job which is vital to our economy.”
“The shifts are long, you spend a lot of time away from family. It’s right that we should take the steps we can take to help by making sure our drivers have top-notch facilities.”
She added: “Improving the welfare and security of lorry drivers is great news for our area and I’m delighted that the Government have given us this support.”
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said: “As we know, the logistics industry is a big part of the local economy. It’s vitally important we provide better facilities and more secure parking.
“It’s good news, we need to look after the welfare of our drivers. It’s important to note there are now more women HGV drivers.”
As well as £8m from the Department for Transport, another £11m is being invested from industry to significantly upgrade truck stops for lorry drivers. The funding is part of 33 actions the Government says it is taking to boost recruitment and retention in the sector.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
