Nov 20 2006
Road users and other interested groups are being invited to make their views known as the Government reviews its guidance for motorway service areas, trunk road service areas, lay-bys and lorry parks.
The provision of picnic facilities alongside trunk roads and motorways is also under consideration.
The 12-week period for comment, which is launched today by the Highways Agency, seeks the views of the public and interested groups such as service area operators as part of the process of reviewing Government policy on the provision of roadside facilities.
Dr Stephen Ladyman, the Minister for Roads, said:
"Motorway service areas and roadside facilities such as lorry parks, trunk road service areas and lay-bys make an important contribution to road safety as places where drivers can stop to take a break.
"Our aim is roadside facilities that are maintained to a high standard and meet the needs of all road users. I am delighted that the Highways Agency is now inviting the road users and all interested parties to have their say."
The Highways Agency wants to ensure provision of a network of roadside facilities to encourage drivers to take more frequent breaks during long journeys and reduce the incidence of fatigue-related accidents.
We are seeking views on:
- The location of motorway service areas; determining the need for such sites and the spacing interval between them;
- The type of facilities, how they are signed and their standards;
- Service areas on trunk roads;
- Motorway picnic facilities;
- Lorry parking;
- The provision and use of lay-bys.
The review will not cover those areas of policy that the Government believes should remain unchanged as they are essential for the safe and effective operation of the strategic road network.
The long-standing requirement that motorway service areas should not become destinations in their own right will remain unchanged, and it is not proposed to introduce any measures of pricing policy at motorway service areas. This will remain a matter for individual operators.
The Government is not minded to change any aspect of the current policy relating to the sale of alcohol at MSA sites. It does not believe that alcohol should be available through the restaurants, shops or accommodation at MSAs since this could encourage impulse consumption of alcohol by drivers and contravene the long-standing policy against drinking and driving.
Policy considerations will also be informed by the Government's long-standing policy preventing advertising on highway land.
The review will be in two phases. Once responses from the first phase have been considered, revised guidance will be produced and a period of consultation is planned. The updated policy guidance would then be published in the form of a policy circular. Until a revised circular is published, existing policy guidance continues to be valid.