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P OPERATION STACK d Drop-off zone could
Page 12
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be a Stack alternative
COVER STORY
christindatt78rageogleman.com A CONTAINER 'drop-off area with handling costs, where HGVs bound for Felixstowe port would be redirected as a solution to Operation Stack, is being considered by freight stakeholders.
The surprising solution is revealed in documents requested by CM under a Freedom of Information request. Despite concerns, including double-handling costs, security issues and empty running. not to mention finding suitable land, consultants are recommending investigating the concept further.
In a technical note produced by consultants Aecom, it states that HGVs would unload their containers at an alternative site.
The note reveals: -The lorry would then be free to go on to other work or return to its base. The containers would he shuttled
into the port terminal once the port reopens. It is envisaged that some of the shuttles would operate at night" However, it adds: "It seems likely that the freight industry, generally, would not respond positively to a transhipment site with a charging regime."
This 'drop-off" idea is one of six options being considered by police, trade associations, port and council officers.
But Road Haulage Association senior area manager Pete Butler fears the preferred option is to simply expand the current Stack site on the old A45.
He says: "It's not big enough. It's only going to take around 200 lorries," he says. "The solution has to be future-proof. They're going down the cheapest option route."
• An investigation into a solution to Operation Stack will appear in the t April issue of CM.