Agenda item

(Report by Head of Network Management and the Head of Countrywide Improvements)

(1)       Operation Stack was a Police led incident that closed the M20 coastbound between junctions 10 and 11 (phase 1) and junctions 8 – 9 (phase 2) when there was disruption at the port of Dover or Eurotunnel through bad weather, industrial action or technical failure.

(2)       Between 28 February 2008 and 21 March 2008 Operation Stack was in place for an unprecedented length of time, causing disruption to residents and visitors.  For the first time ever, Kent Police made a tactical decision to deploy phase 2 in preference to phase 1 for 2 main reasons:-

(i)         Phase 1 had limited capacity and held only 800 lorries whereas phase 2 held 3,300 lorries.

(ii)        Police resource issues.

(3)       During Operation Stack, staff from Kent Highway Services, Emergency Planning and Corporate Communications staff worked with Kent Police to represent the community’s interests and to mitigate against congestion on our own road network. This took the form of attendance at Gold and Silver Command Group meetings and Kent Resilience Forum Policy sub-group, as well as sharing information and intelligence and delivering a joint communication strategy.

(4)       Although the prolonged nature of Operation Stack was extremely frustrating for the public, we did find that, in time, people staggered journey times and found alternative routes and forms of transport.  There were a number of concerns, shared by the public, such as traffic management on and off the motorway during stack, signage, effects on Maidstone, contingency plans and so on, and these were all being explored further with Kent Police and the Highways Agency.  A full update would be submitted to the Board at its July meeting.

(5)       The disruption caused by Operation Stack as well as significantly inconveniencing the community had an adverse impact on the national economy, because much of the national trade with Continental Europe passed through Kent. This therefore was a national problem and the County Council had been pressing the Government to resolve the issue.

(6)       With no other options on the table and given the effect on Kent’s economy and communities of Operation Stack and overnight HGV parking on local roads the Council decided that we must lead the way on finding a permanent solution. Working with other agencies we carried out a study which found that there was a need for a lorry park in Kent and that it should be dual purpose.  As well as providing secure overnight parking it should be available in the event of Operation Stack. The Freight Transport Association supported the proposal. We agreed with the Department for Transport that we would identify a preferred site.

(7)       The severe shortage of suitable secure overnight parking facilities meant that drivers were forced to stop in unsuitable places such as lay-bys, business estates and some near to residential properties.  This led to inconvenience to local communities and environmental problems. This was particularly evident in Dover and Ashford and to a lesser extent in Shepway.

(8)       In order for the lorry park to provide an effective and workable alternative to Operation Stack, it had to be along the M20 corridor and fairly close to the Channel crossings. A number of sites were explored before reaching a decision about a preferred location. The preferred site was between junctions 10 & 11 on the south side of the M20 between Sellindge and Aldington.

(9)       The site, which covered more than 70 acres, was chosen for its good connectivity and proximity to the Channel Tunnel and Dover Docks and because it was isolated from built-up areas. The site was very close to the M20 keeping access roads to a minimum and therefore reducing the impact on the local environment. It was 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. There were no planning designations such as AONB or Special Landscape Area applied to the area.  To access the site, we proposed on and off slip roads to and from the M20 on both east and west bound carriageways. The site would link to the eastbound carriageway via an overbridge or a tunnel if ground conditions permitted . The site would not have access on to the A20.

(10)     The proposed site would provide 500 secure overnight parking spaces for HGVs and an overflow area for up to 2,500 additional HGVs during Operation Stack. The site would have appropriate security, a properly laid out parking area for HGVs, a canteen providing refreshments, toilets, showers and fuel. The remainder of the site would be kept as green as possible and extensive and sympathetic landscaping would be used to further reduce the visual impact.

(11)     The County Council’s approach had been that the cost of building a lorry park should not fall on Kent’s tax payers. Currently 75% of the lorries crossing the Channel were foreign registered and enjoyed cheaper costs than UK firms. The best way to generate the capital to build and run the site was by introducing a vignette system of charges on HGVs entering the country, similar to systems already operating in Austria and Switzerland, we have proposed this to the Government. UK hauliers could be rebated by a corresponding reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty.

(12)     This would mean that overnight HGV parking would be free at the lorry park, encouraging HGV drivers to use it. The current cost a night to park on a licensed site was around £20. The proposal meant that there would be no excuse for HGV drivers to park on local roads overnight.  At the same time HGV parking ban on local roads could be effectively enforced and there should see an end to lorries parking on verges and lay-bys in many parts of the county. Two further secure overnight lorry parks were also being proposed; one along the M2 corridor and the second along the M25.

(13)     During debate Members received a copy of the Campaign to Protect Rural England Kent’s reaction to the proposals.

(14)     Miss S J Carey moved, Mr C G Findlay seconded as an amendment:-

              “That the report which led to the decision to have a lorry park be published, together with the analysis of the alternative sites; and that the Board receive a report on what KCC intended to do short term and long term about transit road freight traffic growth; and that a public consultation be held on the solutions before any planning application on a specific lorry park site is considered.”

Carried (Mr Muckle and Mr Poole abstained and requested it be recorded)

(15)     We were in the early stage of the process; we had discussed the aims of the proposal with the Highways Agency, Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and Ashford Borough Council.  Their comments were expected by the end of April 2008.This would be followed by a detailed planning process which would include a full public consultation. 

(16)     The Board noted the report.