PROFESSIONAL RECOVERY OPERATORS FEDERATION NEWS
(breaking news is below)
12 August 2021 Removal, Storage and Disposal Vehicle Charges Government Consultation.
Richard Goddard President of the Professional Recovery Operators Federation has been advised n writing by the Home Office's Policing Policy Directorate that Following requests from stakeholders for an extension, the Home Office has decided to allow an additional 4 weeks . for parties to respond to the Government Consultation regarding Removal, Storage and Disposal Vehicle Charges. Will any interest parties please respond by Friday 10 September. The president has thanked the Home Office on behalf of all the stakeholders for allowing the extension.
12 August 2021 Upgrading Dynamic Hard Shoulder to All Lane Running
This is the latest communication to PROF from Highways England regarding our discussion concerning the Upgrading of dynamic hard shoulder to all lane running Statutory Instrument Consultation. There will be more on this subject published here as it happens.
Chairman's Update 20/1/2021
In May 2016 I gave evidence against Smart Motorways and the way they were being rolled out. I questioned emergency refuge areas spacing, I questioned signage and the education of motorists and I questioned the validity and safety of THE RED X signs displayed on the gantries.
In 2018, I founded the campaign for safer roadside rescue and recovery. Ably supported by Sir Mike Penning, Tracey Crouch and many of their colleagues in the House of Commons, I would like to think CSRRR had a major role to play in that no new sections of smart motorways were opened until the outcome of Stocktake was released by SoS for Transport, Grant Shapps MP.
While this is of little comfort to the relatives and families of those people who were killed on Smart Motorways, of which some deaths were avoidable, I am now more confident that those people have not died in vain, and my personal condolences goes out to each and every one of you, your pain is unimaginable!
It is no secret that In the past I have personally have been a long time critic of Highways England, and not just about Smart Motorways! However after every battle in order for it to be worth while you have to win the peace!
Brexit is a classic example of 2 bodies who were worlds apart now working together in the best interests of Europe as a whole! Since 2018 I have seen that sea of change within Highways England. The attitude, the continuity, the honesty, but most of all Highways England’s commitment to not only working alongside the recovery industry in our daily plight of keeping the SRN , running safely and efficiently, but to improving safety and standards on Smart Motorways!
Since September 2018 when PROF had its first meeting with Highways England, together we have worked tirelessly to effect the safety of road users, Recovery industry VROs , and of course the public we all serve. The new acting CEO of Highways England, Nick Harris has been instrumental in encouraging and actioning the new various new strategic partnerships that have either been signed or are in the pipeline. Nick Harris personally initiated the Highways England Recovery Industry Executive Group which includes all of the industry major stakeholders.
We now have a Smart Motorways working group which began last year , and is currently tackling the very subjects I brought up at the 2016 select committee!
1. Red X's.
2. Emergency refuge areas, size and spacing.
3. Signs, digital and otherwise.
4. Faster communications between, stranded motorists, motoring organisation, and Highways England traffic officer .
I am proud to say all of these very relevant points are being worked on and will help to reduce deaths at the roadside. Those that know me, and know PROF will understand my direct approach to all matters as important as Smart Motorways and will know I will not pay lip service or be patronised into stating anything but the truth! But I speak the truth when I state, Highways England is a different animal to the Highways Agency! Nick Harris and his team have been a breath of fresh air in dealing with a government agency that actually listens and is working with us!
The strategic partnerships across the board will unite and bring together a cohesive industry whose main objectives will be to raise standards, increase the safety of all road users and ultimately save lives! Sadly we cannot change the past, but together we are working every day to improve the future.
Sir Mike Penning and Tracey Crouch committed their time , their passion and their reputations supporting the CSRRR. Their continued support will never be undermined or compromised by PROF. However I am confident that the new regime and the people I speak to on a weekly sometimes daily basis will deliver a safer strategic road network.
Our work continues on a weekly basis, not just on Smart motorways but on COVID 19, on going risk assessments and ongoing standards and safety. But we do this work now as partners, not as individual entities.
Richard Goddard
Chairman PROF
Some Good News for 2021 - This letter received by the Chairman
