Kent County Council has invited the Road Haulage Association to chair a study group on problems relating to the channel tunnel and the disruption caused by Operation Stack.
Operation Stack diverts non-commercial traffic from the M20 when lorry services across the Channel are disrupted. Passenger traffic is diverted at junctions 8 and 9 depending on direction of travel and brought back on at the alternating junction, with the space on the M20 used to park backlogged lorries.
Peter Cullum, RHA head of international affairs and study group chairman, said: “This invitation follows on from government’s request for action after recent disruptions at the channel crossings and we are delighted to have the chance to apply some new thinking to deal with future growth requirements.”
Cullum said the issue needed to be addressed urgently. The RHA aims to have its report to the Strategic Delivery Group completed by April.
“A workable solution will need a holistic approach and we will look positively at every proposal, whether from the industry, specific stakeholders or the public.
“Easier access into Europe is already a national challenge and should be treated as such,” he says.
