Kentish Express Ashford & District
MP says lorry park could still be built
A lorry park at Stanford could still turn out to be the government’s proposed solution to Operation Stack despite the latest plans getting ditched.
Shepway council leader David Monk warned residents their celebrations “might be premature” after they held a party following the government’s announcement last week that the scheme had been axed.
His comments were echoed by Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins, who said a lorry park “could still be built at Stanford West” and open in 2021.
The embarrassing U-turn for the government, which said earlier this month it was fully committed to the plans, means back to the drawing board for the scheme.
Ministers announced the plans for the 3,600-space lorry park had been shelved after deciding not to contest next month’s judicial review, which was prompted by residents’ opposition.
It is understood an assessment of the environmental impact of the lorry park was not carried out because Highways England was advised this was not needed under the planning rules it was trying to use.
The 250-acre holding area – the size of Disneyland – was earmarked for fields off the M20 near junction 11, to be called Stanford West.
But for the time-being at least, residents have been celebrating the decision after transport secretary Chris Grayling told Parliament the current plans had been dropped.
He said the government needed to “reassess the scope, scale and location of our solutions” to Operation Stack – which hit Kent hard during the summer of 2015.
Mr Grayling added that the new designs to be drawn up by Highways England must consider the “changes since the original concept, including the UK’s exit from the European Union” and the day-to-day need for “business as usual lorry parking in Kent”.
He said the original plans were being withdrawn for Stanford West because “the government can no longer defend the judicial review”.
What do you think about the U-turn? Email folkestoneexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk or post a letter to Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY.