Proposals for three new lorry parks in Kent, which will be discussed by Kent county council on Wednesday (17 September), have received strong support from the Road Haulage Association, with a spokesperson calling for “decisive action” on the issue.
The proposals are for a 300-space site at Westenhanger, M20 junction 11; a 280-space site on land adjacent to Ashford International Truckstop, M20 junction 10; and a 240-space site at White Cliffs Business Park, Dover.
Chrys Rampley, RHA haulage security manager, says that a 2011 Department of Transport survey highlighted the south-east as having the most severe shortage of secure lorry parking.
“We must seize this opportunity to move forward with decisive action,” she says.
The proposals are being put to the Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee, which will then make a recommendation to the E&T Cabinet Member, who will then make a recommendation to the full council.
“We have been working with Kent and also Ashford District Council to find ways of resolving the chronic shortage of appropriate lorry parking in Kent,” says Rampley. “The two authorities have done impressive work on this important issue. The proposed package of measures to encourage use of the lorry parks when they are built has the RHA’s full support.”
The schemes would go to public consultation in 2015, with the RHA seeking a 2018-open date for the first facility with the remaining two opening in the proceeding two years.
