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As a solution to the inconvenience caused when Operation
Stack is in place, Kent County Council has proposed the creation of
a lorry park at a site near the M20.
To provide information on the reasons and plans behind this
proposal,
Keith
Ferrin, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, has
answered a number of questions about the proposed lorry park:
What is the proposed solution to Operation Stack?
Kent County Council has proposed the creation of a duel purpose
Operation Stack and overnight lorry park near the M20. When there
are disruptions to cross Channel services, lorries would be
directed to wait at this site.
The aim is to minimise disruption and keep traffic moving,
avoiding the damage and inconvenience to residents and the Kent
economy whenever Operation Stack is invoked as a result of
disruption to cross-Channel services.
The overnight lorry park would be able to hold up to 500
lorries. When Stack is in place the overflow will be able to hold
an additional 2,500 lorries. Kent Police and the Freight Transport
Association agree that this is the best solution.
What about other options such as the Quick Movable Barrier
(QMB)?
The QMB is a mobile contra flow system where a continuous
barrier is put along the M20 to separate HGVs from other traffic.
It was agreed with the Department of Transport that the QMB would
help manage the traffic in Phase 1 of Operation Stack. However,
this still means the lorries remain parked on the M20. This only
works during phase 1. The most recent Operation Stack went to Phase
2, would have left the QMB defunct.
Where will the Operation Stack lorry park be located?
Kent County Council's preferred location for the Operation Stack
lorry park is south of the M20 and north of the high-speed railway,
off Church Lane, Aldington. Some of this site acted as a staging
area for the former Channel Tunnel Construction site.
The proposed site, which will cover approximately 70 acres only,
was chosen for its good connectivity and proximity to the Channel
Tunnel and Dover Docks and because it was isolated from built-up
areas.
It is also shielded from view by the Sellindge Converter Station
to the east, the M20 to the north, a railway embankment to the
south and woodland to the west. View a
map
of the proposed location.
A number of other sites were looked at, but this was found to be
the best option. This decision was not taken lightly. We are also
looking at a further two sites near the A2/M2 and M25 for overnight
parking
Who have you so far consulted?
We have consulted extensively with Kent Police, Kent Fire and
Rescue Service, the Highways Agency and Ashford Borough Council and
they have committed to responding to our proposals by the end of
April.
Kent Police, Kent Highways, The Freight Transport Association
and the Highways Agency support our initial proposals.
What about local residents?
Residents will, as in all such planning applications, be fully
consulted and their views reported to KCC
Planning Applications Committee for consideration.
Should we not be looking to other solutions, like more use of
rail for freight transport?
We are still keen to see more freight taken by Rail. However,
last year only 1.2 million tonnes was taken by rail - far below the
forecasts of 6 million tonnes before the Tunnel opened and
significantly below the 3.1 million tonnes carried in 1998.
Railfreight is unlikely to be able to compete with transport by
road which offers a door-to-door service and is usually more
competitive on price.
Delivery and service quality of rail, particularly in mainland
Europe, needs to be significantly improved before a significant
shift to Railfreight is likely to be seen.
What about using other ports?
Road freight are attracted to using the Port of Dover and the
Channel Tunnel shuttles in preference to other ports because the
price of crossing is relatively cheap, the crossing time is much
quicker and the frequency of services means that the time penalty
of missing a ferry or shuttle is minimised.
What will be at the proposed site?
It is proposed that some of the site will have permanent
overnight secure parking for some 500 lorries overnight, which
would include canteen, cleaning and toilet facilities.
There is a severe shortage of such facilities in Kent and so
would significantly reduce the need for lorries to park on lay-bys
and down our country highways, damaging road verges and leaving
waste.
The rest of the site will only be used when Operation Stack is
working.
What about access to the Lorry Park?
We are looking at two options: one would be a tunnel under the
M20 and the other via a bridge over the M20. It would be direct
access to the lorry park for HGVs only.
There would be no access via Church Lane except for emergency
services and staff working at the facilities. Therefore traffic
should be minimal.
The A20 will not be used for access.
What about security of the lorry park?
KCC has been closely consulting with Kent Police on this matter.
It is proposed that the Lorry Park would be securely managed
independently.
Hauliers are often the victims of crime where freight is stolen
whilst they are insecurely parked. The Lorry Park will also ensure
that rather than parking all over Kent in lay-bys and other
inappropriate places they park in a secure location where it is
easier to police and manage.
How much will it cost to create the lorry park and who will pay
for it?
The cost of the proposals for a lorry park and access to and
from the M20 is approximately £35 million.
Kent County Council is looking to national government, through
the Department for Transport (DfT), to fund the scheme.
The DfT are looking at the proposal. KCC has suggested that the
scheme could be funded by a 'Brit disc' charge on all foreign
lorries entering the UK.
How much will it cost for HGVs to park?
It will be free, as above we are looking to a 'Brit disc' disc
charge on all foreign lorries entering Kent to pay for it.
The idea of a Vignette or 'Brit Disk' has been rejected in the
recent Budget, what now?
We will continue to lobby government on this as we feel it is a
very sound solution to paying for infrastructure improvements such
as a lorry park or new Thames Crossing.
In addition we are in discussion with the European Commission,
through Richard Ashworth MEP, on help with the funding. We are
expecting the European Commissioner for Transport to travel to Kent
and see first hand what the issues are.
When will the Operation Stack lorry park be ready to use?
Discussions about the creation of the Operation Stack lorry park
are still in progress. A fully detailed planning application should
be ready for consultation in a year's time.
If funding is agreed, the lorry park will be available for use
in two to three years.
Won't this just create more pollution?
In fact, it should improve the environment. If a secure site is
in operation with proper facilities then it would ensure that
lorries would not park down our country highways, damaging road
verges and leaving waste.
It would also ensure that the M20 is open during stack meaning
that local villages are not blighted by extra traffic and pollution
as is the current case when Operation Stack is in
session. |