Ashford port proposed
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KENT COUNTY Council has compiled a report on the need for an inland port complex at Ashford and has circulated it to about 40 hauliers and companies that could benefit from such a complex.
The site would include customs facilities, warehousing, a road/rail-interchange, secure parking, vehicle workshops and drivers' facilities, although a Kent spokesman said that the response to the plan so far had not been very encouraging.
"Within one month we will have received most of the replies to our report and will know whether or not to go ahead with it," Chris Green, Kent divisional planning officer told CM. "The response so far has not been very good."
The suggestion for an inland site came from Ashford Borough Council and Enterprise Ashford, which is an enterprise agency offering advice to small and large businesses.
Ashford is a growth town, Mr Green said, and it would be a very good site for such a complex. It has good road access which will be improved once the M20 Maidstone-Ashford link is complete.
One reason for the complex would be to relieve some of the pressure from the port of Dover. An additional inland port would clear congestion and give a greater choice to customers wishing to ship goods abroad.