Will lorry park increase strain on our city’s congested roads?

Supporters downplay traffic fears, saying: ‘It won’t be catastrophic’

Canterbury’s road network will come under immense strain when a huge post-brexit lorry park is built on the outskirts of Ashford, it is feared.

It was revealed this week the government has snapped up a 27-acre plot of land close to Junction 10a of the M20. Acting as both a customs centre for border checks for incoming lorries and a temporary holding site for outgoing HGVS, the new facility is part of the government’s £705 million package to help manage Britain’s borders following the withdrawal from the EU.

Ministers believe it will alleviate pressures at Dover and reduce hold-ups at the port, but a swathe of critics fearful of the repercussions on the whole of east Kent have hit out at the plan.

Lorry drivers wanting to head up the A2 from Dover could instead be diverted to go along the M20 to Ashford for their customs checks.

They will then be miles off their intended route, and in order to get back on track, many believe they will cut along the A28 to reach the A2 at Wincheap. Cllr Nick Eden-green (Lib Dem) says such action will cause significant problems for Canterbury’s road system.

“It’s bound to bring far more traffic problems on already congested roads,” he said.

“Those using the lorry park at Ashford then make a lot more use of the A28 and all of the roads around here. “We’ve already got a significant lorry problem on the Wincheap Industrial Estate and in Bridge - this is going to exacerbate them.

“The cost of this lorry site isn’t just going to be financial, it’ll be a cost for everyone in east Kent and the Canterbury district.

“We all knew this was likely to happen, it’s just a huge sadness this is something imposed on us by ourselves.”

In stark contrast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has welcomed the news and has waved away fears it will have an adverse effect on east Kent’s roads.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, the former parliamentary candidate said: “The fact we’re taking borders seriously is a very good thing,” “When it comes to delivery, well, we’ll have to see - but it’s absolutely the right thing to do and this is a sign the government is genuinely taking Brexit seriously.

“The new customs site will result in a bit more traffic but it won’t be catastrophic. “For 25 years, Kent has become the temporary ‘Garden of Lorry Parks’ whenever the French go on strike.

“I’m pretty certain once this is up-and-running, there literally won’t be a massive load of difference.” Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield raised her “great concerns” over the development in the House of Commons on Monday. She stressed it would create “serious tailbacks” and cited an increased difficulty for city residents to get to the nearest A&E at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

Work on building the new site in Ashford was due to start on Monday but at the time of going to print, work is yet to start.

Fears over the impact of a lorry park on local roads have been dismissed by Nigel Farage

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