The enclosed photograph was taken at the Cambridge Extra motorway service area on 26 January at about 1730hrs, with designated coach parking clearly visible to the right.
There were three staff members supervising the lorry parking.
My question is whether the owners of the site are serious about ensuring coach passenger safety, and how they expect passengers to access the facilities when so many hazards have been placed in the way.
What really stood out to me was a lorry that, when parked, had a detachable loader protruding into the designated foot crossing.
I am aware that a parking fee is payable, which benefits the service area operator, but that won’t be of much value if someone was to get injured or worse and claim compensation. Surely, the fact a coach can call in with 50-odd passengers, each of whom will buy a drink, already delivers revenue to the order of some £200? Meanwhile, not all lorries pay the fee, judging by how many were parked on the approach road.
As a coach driver in such circumstances, how are we expected to ensure passenger safety?
I should also mention (with a view to PSVAR) that this chaos also fails wheelchair users, who might be at greater risk.
Many wheelchair-bound passengers are unable to use the onboard facilities, so a comfort stop is necessary. That stop could be an extended affair if the driver is forced to allow for these kinds of obstacles.
Chris Brown
Shropshire
