A new draft policy for providing and operating motorway services and other roadside facilities on England's strategic roads has been published by the Highways Agency for a six-week public consultation.

To prepare the draft, the Highways Agency has reviewed the existing policy.

It also issued a 12-week call for evidence which asked the views of road users, industry and other interested parties, which closed in February of this year.

That feedback has been used to prepare the draft policy, which is published today.

The consultation period will give road users, operating companies and other interested parties an opportunity to consider the draft policy and give the Agency their views.

The draft policy sets out how the agency will regulate the provision of motorway service areas and rest areas, trunk road service areas and lay-bys to ensure they continue to provide safe and suitable roadside facilities for road users to take a break during their journey.

It says that the Highways Agency is now prepared to consider a number of new ideas that could lead to motorway service areas being used for conference facilities, coach interchanges or to provide a base for park and ride or park and share.

Any development planned for service areas would be assessed using a system of impact assessment in order to protect the countryside and ensure that service areas do not become 'destinations in their own right'.

There is also a proposal to develop a new quality standard award for service facilities in partnership with the British Tourist Authority.

The draft policy covers the areas of:

  • The location of motorway service areas; determining the need for such sites and the spacing interval between them;

  • The type of facilities, how they are signed and their standards;

  • Motorway rest areas;

  • Service areas on trunk roads;

  • Lorry parking;

  • The provision and use of lay-bys;

  • Park and ride/park and share facilities;

  • Signing arrangements for all types of roadside facility.

    Copies of the draft policy is available on the Highways Agency website:

    www.highways.gov.uk/business/133.aspx.

    Or by emailing: roadsidefacilitiesreview@highways.gsi.gov.uk.