Dirty, cold water showers, £21 to park up, absolute disgrace!!! Why do truck drivers continue to be treated like 2nd class citizens in the country?
See if I get reply…
My reply
While truck drivers act like 2nd class citizens that’s how they will be treated.
James7716:
Dirty, cold water showers, £21 to park up, absolute disgrace!!! Why do truck drivers continue to be treated like 2nd class citizens in the country?See if I get reply…
sucker for paying £21 then 
mac12:
My reply
While truck drivers act like 2nd class citizens that’s how they will be treated.
Is there a like button for this 
The problem is a few spoil it for the many.
nick2008:
James7716:
Dirty, cold water showers, £21 to park up, absolute disgrace!!! Why do truck drivers continue to be treated like 2nd class citizens in the country?See if I get reply…
sucker for paying £21 then
Neither did I, I was merely point out that for those that do pay £21, it isn’t acceptable, I had just stopped for a break
James7716:
nick2008:
James7716:
Dirty, cold water showers, £21 to park up, absolute disgrace!!! Why do truck drivers continue to be treated like 2nd class citizens in the country?See if I get reply…
sucker for paying £21 then
Neither did I, I was merely point out that for those that do pay £21, it isn’t acceptable, I had just stopped for a break
speedyguy:
mac12:
My reply
While truck drivers act like 2nd class citizens that’s how they will be treated.Is there a like button for this
The problem is a few spoil it for the many.
A like button ? Let me get this right, the OP has had to use a dirty and cold shower and paid £21 for the parking, and you like it ? Or, rather you like the reason why this has happened.
Oh, it gets better…because a few drivers act like 2nd class citizens ?
That then means the sites providers do not have to clean the showers or put the heating on?
Not something i like, but each to their own i suppose.
nick2008:
sucker for paying £21 then
I suppose in a way, that is the sensible answer. I’m parked at Severn View (Aust) services right now, the showers are filthy, the shop stocks virtually nothing and closes at 2200 so I simply haven’t paid for parking. And this makes the situation fair and equitable, because I can’t complain about services I haven’t paid for. 
I never pay for packing there as I would sooner park on an ind est but I sometimes stop there for a shower on the way through to somewhere else the water has always been hot and the showers have not been spotless but I have used a lot worse I just put flip flops on so my feet do not have to touch the floor.The facilities will never be as good as they are at home as I am afraid nobody seems to have any respect for other peoples things any more sign of the times I just try and make the most of things
N/b the showers are good, as the refit has seen decent toilets and showers fitted, s/b it’s still in the outside cabin which are worse then ■■■■! But a little walk over and it’s not bad to be fair. The op doesn’t point out which he’s talking about.
I went/drove to France last week and couldn’t believe the high standard of the services! Coupled with better driving standards and the fact I stuck to 80 all day long I think it’s society here that’s the problem. Those lay by things off the motor way were clean also, with toilets but not abused. This country’s standards as a whole from our own people is a disgrace…
I’m not sure how the awarding of MSA contracts is carried out. I suspect the awarding authority (Highways?) may put out a tender. The lease and provision then awarded for a set number of years with various exit clauses enshrined should the provision of services fail to live up to contract obligation.
It would be reasonable to expect the authority carries out inspections and audits of the service providers as part of the contract and also to form part of any decision making process in the awarding of subsequent contracts. The reality is the audits maybe be sub standard; for example notice given to the contractor allowing the MSA to tidy up and preen the premises to give a false impression of day to day operation. It is also feasible the audits maybe carried out with the skewed viewpoint that doesn’t include all road users such as overnighting drivers.
A good way to rally the authority that awards such contracts would be to mandate a representing body such as the RHA to submit a large number petition to the authority for their consideration when awarding MSA contracts. Inclusion of photographic evidence of sub standard, unhygienic and vastly over provide facilities will be useful. Conversely in order to be taken more seriously in providing a productive rather than problem creating input and solution it would do well to cite other providers who have taken the time to fulfill the obligation better such as the trucknet acclaimed small Gloucester services or examples of good European service areas.
OllieNotts:
N/b the showers are good, as the refit has seen decent toilets and showers fitted, s/b it’s still in the outside cabin which are worse then [zb]! But a little walk over and it’s not bad to be fair. The op doesn’t point out which he’s talking about.
I went/drove to France last week and couldn’t believe the high standard of the services! Coupled with better driving standards and the fact I stuck to 80 all day long I think it’s society here that’s the problem. Those lay by things off the motor way were clean also, with toilets but not abused. This country’s standards as a whole from our own people is a disgrace…
+1
Freight Dog:
I’m not sure how the awarding of MSA contracts is carried out. I suspect the awarding authority (Highways?) may put out a tender. The lease and provision then awarded for a set number of years with various exit clauses enshrined should the provision of services fail to live up to contract obligation.It would be reasonable to expect the authority carries out inspections and audits of the service providers as part of the contract and also to form part of any decision making process in the awarding of subsequent contracts. The reality is the audits maybe be sub standard; for example notice given to the contractor allowing the MSA to tidy up and preen the premises to give a false impression of day to day operation. It is also feasible the audits maybe carried out with the skewed viewpoint that doesn’t include all road users such as overnighting drivers.
No awarding of contracts is handed out, 1992 The govt pulled out of MSA’s and decided to let “the market” provide all roadside facilities,
It sold out the sites it could and kept a few where possible motorway widening/expansion may be carried out, these were let on 50year leases which gives the operator complete control as to what happens on site as long as it meets the prevailing govt policy at the time.
There are reasons why the sites are not inspected.
I think leaving truck parking to “the market” has failed badly, The only way to instigate change is to get your trade associations to lobby the Dept for Transport, They don’t seem interested as they sit in the London bubble and probably sup tea over polite chat with your trade associations saying all the right things and nodding their heads before moving onto the next tea supping session.
Ah. That’s popped that balloon. Must stop applying common sense when it comes to presuming how the government do things.
That’s why they’re overpriced dirt holes from the 1980s.