Interview with Richard Holden, Roads Minister (11/09/23)

Why’s it so important for the government to invest in better roadside facilities for truck drivers? 

This is the most public-facing of the 33 measures the UK government is taking to deal with the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK. 

Whenever I go to new truckstops and meet new truck drivers, the need for better roadside facilities is the one thing that cuts through time after time after time. That’s why it’s important to award funds and make improvements right across the country, from Wiltshire to Norfolk, and Lincolnshire to Lancashire. 

It’s been really great to see how just many people were bidding in the first round of what we’re hoping will be three rounds of funding. 

As you probably know, today 39 roadside operators received an £8m investment from us, which is being matched by £11m from the private sector. And we’re hoping for even more bidders on the next round. 

Is £8m enough across 39 sites (around £200k per site) and can we expect more investment in the future? 

It’s matched funding [with the private sector] and some sites are getting over £300,000 depending on the improvements they wish to make. 

Some sites want to do improvements on security, for some it’s welfare, others it’s increased parking, some want to do multiple areas of investment. What we want to make sure of is that no operator is excluded from bidding to improve their specific need. 

Overall, from the three [funding] tranches, total investment will be around £100m. So overall, we think that’s going to make a significant improvement. 

You’re clearly sending a positive message to current and future HGV drivers and operators. What other improvements can we expect over the next 12 months and beyond? 

We’ve already done a huge amount of work with some of the training schemes to make sure more drivers are coming through and we’re working with DFE on that as well via apprentice programmes. 

The big change that I’m wanting to get to concerns the CPC. We’re evaluating t whether to make it more flexible at the moment in a bid to retain more drivers. 

There will be two more welfare schemes as well and the one thing I’m really keen to do is get these up and running as soon as possible. 

I also want more on the driver welfare front, some sensible changes to ease bureaucracy, which I know can wind them up, and more improvements across the board. We will continue a lot of work in this space. 

And I’ll continue to work with devolved administrations to make sure they’re as fully on board as we are. 

What kind of feedback have you received since the announcement? 

MPs know hauliers in their constituencies, especially larger ones on the main road network, and have historic issues with this stuff [truck stops]. And local communities themselves want to see safe places for lorries to park. 

So far, local communities and MPs have been very supportive right up and down the country, from Staffordshire to Thurrock, and a lot of them are really keen to push the case forward for their local truck stops to make a bid in round two and round three of the funding. 

Published On: 14/09/2023 15:00:00

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