News

Fears have been raised about a lack of parking facilities for lorry drivers in North-east Scotland following the closure of Aberdeen's only truck stop. Drivers have been left without a place to park overnight after Altens Lorry Park on Hareness Road was shut by its operator. Aberdeen City Council says the park, which offered around 50 parking spots, had been run by a company called European Development and Investment.

RHA general manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland Pat Glancey  describes the closure of Altens as "very sad". She says: "There is very much a shortage of premium sites in the area and the nearest one is quite a few miles out of Aberdeen. "We've not heard anything about the possibility of anyone taking the site over," Glancey adds. The closure has also raised fears that trucks carrying hazardous chemical loads might end up parking in lay-bys next to busy roads during the night.

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council says: "With regards to parking for trucks around Aberdeen, there has been a gradual loosening of restrictions and there are now designated streets in industrial parks in Aberdeen where lorry drivers are able to park." Inverness-shire-based Fer-guson Transport adds: "[The closure] is something which is more likely to affect firms operating long-distance from the south of Scotland and England."