Kentish Express Ashford & District
Village ‘turned into lorry park’
Angry villagers say Sellindge has become a lorry park after truckers started using the A20 for overnight parking.
Frustrated residents have photographed HGV drivers taking advantage of new laybys put in by housing developer Taylor Wimpey, which is building scores of homes near the Co-op.
Developers say the installation of the laybys was part of the planning agreement, but fed-up neighbours have had enough.
Retired IT manager Clifford Styles, who lives in Downs Way, said: “As soon as the laybys went in, the lorry drivers started using them immediately.
“It’s disgraceful and it is the talk of the village.
“They reckon the laybys were put in for traffic calming to stop lorries hurtling through, but they have created a perfect car park.
“The Airport Cafe has overnight lorry parking but as soon as that is full the drivers look elsewhere and come into Sellindge because it’s free.
“I personally think they should put a bollard in the middle of each layby - that way lorries couldn’t fit in them but cars could still use them.
“It has become a lorry park on the A20.”
Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) has installed new signs in the laybys warning HGV drivers not to park there.
The authority’s traffic regulation order (TRO) means there is an overnight ban between 8pm and 7am weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday for the entire length of the A20 in Sellindge.
Now the signs have been installed in the laybys, FHDC says it can enforce the TRO.
A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “As part of the planning agreement for our new homes development in Sellindge, we have installed a series of traffic calming measures on the A20 including the addition of new laybys.
“We are aware that lorries are using the laybys for parking and understand the frustrations of residents.”
• What do you think about the lorries parking on the A20? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk