Op Stack lorry park plan no solution – Eurotunnel

Plans for a huge lorry park to deal with Operation Stack are being questioned by Eurotunnel, which says it will not provide the solution to the problem.

The company has set out its concerns as part of a submission to Highways England. It is weighing up options after a public consultation on two options for a lorry park on a site off the M20 near Stanford, Folkestone.

Spokesman John Keefe said the company’s submission had raised several issues about the £250m scheme.

He said: “We do not believe that the lorry park solution is the way to to deal with Operation Stack. Last year was an unprecedented year with the migrant activity around the port of Calais. Since that issue has been resolved, we have not had Operation Stack in place once.”

He added the company had taken action itself to help extend the capacity of the Cheriton terminal. It was also increasing the number of freight trains that meant freight departures every seven and a half minutes compared to every 10 minutes.

“We do not think that taking traffic off the road and situating it on a holding area is going to benefit anybody. There has been confusion over between two things: Operation Stack and the problem of overnight parking, which is not related to Operation Stack.”

The problems could be addressed by using other parts of the motorway network and increasing the capacity by adding extra lanes, he added.

“It is about looking at the bigger picture if you are spending £250m on something that stops traffic and holding it on a site off the motorway.”

The option of dualling singlelane stretches of the A2 should be part of a wider strategy, he added.

Highways England is expected to announce which of the two lorry park options it favours shortly.

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

Operation Stack in place on the M20 near Ashford