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We have announced our preferred site for a lorry park that
will bring an end to the misery of Operation Stack.
I believe the proposed site is in an ideal location, south of
the M20 and north of the high-speed railway, off Church lane in
Aldington and next to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link converter
station. It's a Brownfield site that was previously used when the
Channel Tunnel was being constructed and is isolated from built-up
areas.
The park will have the capacity to hold up to 3,000 lorries when
there's disruption on the ferry services and will also give up to
500 truckers a decent over-night place to stop when Operation Stack
isn't necessary.
Obviously, this is the beginning of a long journey. Now we have
found the site, it's up to the Department of Transport to find a
way to fund it.
The solution is simple.
It's what Kent has been suggesting since the late 1990s - the
Brit Disc. The Brit Disc would charge all foreign hauliers when
entering the UK through Kent. This money could be ploughed back
into ensuring the residents of Kent do not have to suffer every
time French ferry workers down tools.
I know not one person who hasn't been affected by the chaos on
Kent's roads in recent days. Let's take control of this far too
frequent inconvenience and start building the solution.
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