Drone photos capture huge lorry park

Ashford’s unfinished Brexit lorry park is expected to get busier in the coming days after opening for the first time last week. Here, Esprit Drone Services captures the sprawling facility from the air

Part of the 66-acre facility next to Junction 10a of the M20 is currently being used as a coronavirus test site for lorry drivers hoping to cross the Channel. But after starting work in July, contractors are still behind on the build programme as inclement weather is continuing to delay construction. The government had hoped it could hold up to 1,700 trucks on the plot and use the land for customs checks from January 1, but only part of the huge facility is currently open

The neighbouring Waterbrook Park estate is currently being used for customs checks while the Sevington lorry park is completed. This photo - showing the Finberry housing estate in the distance - includes the Cheeseman’s Green Lane railway bridge. The government says the “current intention is the Sevington and Waterbrook sites will need to be used as inland border facilities sites at the same time but on a limited basis for a temporary period of two months”

The lorry park is accessed via the new A2070 link road, which was built as part of the Junction 10a works. Traffic lights were installed at the entry point after Christmas, allowing truckers to turn right when leaving the facility. Last week, ABC deputy leader Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) - who lives close to the site - said he was “impressed with how well KCC has accommodated the government’s demand to use the Sevington Inland Border Facility as a Covid-19 site so quickly”

This view looks towards the Ashford Retail Park, home to TK Maxx and Boots among others. The entrance to the Sevington Inland Border Facility staff car park can be seen on the left, accessed off Church Road. As can be seen in this photo, a number of buildings have been constructed on the site. From April 1, ABC will become responsible for carrying out various port health controls on behalf of the government on the land. The ‘border control post’ will operate 24 hours a day

PHOTOS WERE TAKEN ON JAN 5 BY ESPRIT DRONE SERVICES