Lorry drivers deserve better

We have had 10 weeks of clapping for our ‘vital workers’ on Thursdays evenings, mainly for our dedicated nurse. I have district nurses visit me to dress my leg ulcer wounds and I have asked them what they think about the outbreak of empathy towards them. Some have said “we would just appreciate it if we were to be treated this way when things get back to normal”. One nurse said something which is very close to my heart and that is the sudden rise in affection towards the lorry driver. Suddenly today these knights of the road are important to everyone, conveniently forgetting that only ‘yesterday’ they were the scum of the earth,

fouling and littering lay-bys and being a nuisance to all and sundry on the roads.

HGV drivers have to ‘park-up’ when they have completed their legal hours for the day. But where do they park up? In the old days virtually every town had a dedicated HGV parking area. These have virtually all gone, so what can they do to stay legal? The government and local councils could, and should, do more for them by providing safe and secure parking together with decent toilet and eating facilities. These would not have to be in towns but could be located on unused land close to the main arterial routes.

I have been put into a typical situation where I have moved heaven and earth to get to a destination on time, only to be held up in long queue before unloading by which time you are over your working hours for the day. You ask if you can park up here for the night only to be rudely told “no you can’t, you can use our toilet facilities then you MUST vacate the site”. That attitude is typical but NOT acceptable whereby you are being forced to break the law. Nurses are justly well thought of, it is about time HGV drivers were thought of in the same manner. After all, everything that you buy relies on a lorry delivering it to someone somewhere.

Let us keep this wave of empathy going by having better facilities for our knights of the road.

Syd Carroll