On the 27 April 2018 the HTA received notification that with immediate effect there was a restriction on all abnormal loads over 40T travelling over M6 Jeffries Bridge which is located at marker post 430.3 South of junction 38.  This caused a significant detour for loads travelling to and from the West of Scotland with costs borne by the industry.

The HTA first raised this issue with Highways England (HE) at the time of the restriction and repeatedly asked for updates.  HEs stance was to require evidence of significant disruption to industry in order to re-assess the restriction.  The disruption was finally recognised by HE when Greater Manchester Police imposed a blanket embargo on all abnormal loads in their traffic area at peak periods.  The increased abnormal load traffic, sighted as the reason for the embargo, being partly attributed to the re-routing of abnormal loads to avoid Jeffries bridge.

The HTA highlighted this disruption during a telephone conference with the Abnormal Loads Team of HE on the 8 May 2019, who were then able to apply pressure to Area 13 for a removal of the restriction the following week.  The HTA has thanked HE Abnormal Loads Team for their assistance in this matter.

The response to the Home Office letter sent on 24 January 2018 was received on the 29 March 2018 from Rt Hon Nick Hurd, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service.  It was stated in the letter that the ‘enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the local Chief Officer of Police’.  The response then went on to put the decision as to how notifications are received within the authority of the Chief Officer and then stated that this is the Government’s position.

The HTA is disappointed in what could be described as the Home Office side-stepping its overarching responsibility in this area and remains resolute of the opinion that the legislation requires an agreement by both sides.

It has been a long understood policy of Welcome Break to facilitate extended free parking over the standard 2 hours to Abload Hauliers in possession of an endorsed movement order due to the additional burdens experienced by the industry.

The HTA has recently received several reports of members receiving parking tickets from Parking Eye whilst staying beyond 2hrs free parking.  It was decided by the committee to approach the CEO of Welcome Break for comment.  A letter was sent to Robbie Bell the CEO Designate and in response the HTA received an eMail from Nick Jackson the Head of Business development.  Although he was unable to suggest a procedure for registering the extension of free parking on arrival at one of their service stations, he gave an eMail address to notify in advance to register the extension.

Members are advised to contact Welcome Break directly at the following address prior to using the services to enable the extension of free parking: parking@welcomebreak.co.uk