Newark lorry park named the most secure in the East Midlands

Newark Lorry Park has been named the safest in the East Midlands and is one of just three truck stops in the UK to receive the accreditation.

A recent assessment by the British Parking Association commended the lorry park, on Great North Road, Newark, for its management and maintenance, effective surveillance and high level of lighting, signage and cleanliness.

Newark and Sherwood District Council works alongside partners including the police to ensure that towns and communities are safe places to be and the Safer Parking Scheme is aimed at reducing crime and fear of crime in parking areas.

The Park Mark award complements a full house of the same accreditation for all district council-owned pay and display car parks in Newark, all of which have also received Disabled Parking Accreditation, aimed at improving parking for disabled people and reducing abuse of disabled spaces.

Keith Girling, deputy leader for Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Both the lorry park and all district council car parks are clearly marked with the Park Mark tick on signage so that drivers know where to go for safe parking. 

“The Park Mark award is a testament to the work we are doing to make Newark and Sherwood a safer place to live, work and visit.”

The district council recently completed extension and improvement works at the lorry park, to ensure HGV drivers were provided with a safe and secure site in a centrally accessible location for day and overnight parking, while reducing the number of HGVs parking in laybys and on local pavements and verges in residential areas. This form of parking can be dangerous to other road users, is a nuisance to residents and encourages freight crime.

The improvement project saw the introduction of a new one-way system, improved lighting, additional pedestrian crossings, speed bumps and a fuel refilling facility, as well as creating space for up to 167 vehicles.

The park is fully secured with fencing, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) controlled barriers and 24/7 CCTV meaning drivers and their vehicles will stay safe at all hours of the day.

A range of facilities at the park are also available including toilets, showers and a lorry wash. Work is also being undertaken to refurbish the on-site café, extend the food offer, install Wi-Fi and extend the opening hours to meet the high-quality of the extended site.

The park also provides secure, off-street parking for day-visiting coaches to encourage more footfall into Newark attractions, boosting the local economy. Fuel cards are accepted at the site.