AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Kent truck parking in crisis

21st July 2005, Page 7
21st July 2005
Page 7
Page 7, 21st July 2005 — Kent truck parking in crisis
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE N UMBER of trucks parked illegally and on unsuitable sites in Kent is set to more than double to 750 per night over the next four years, say transport consultants.

Faber Maunsell says possible short-term solutions to the problem include more on-the-spot fines and opening up park-and-ride sites to trucks near M21.13 and M20/.17.

In a report published this week Faber Maunsell warns that unless action is taken, anti-social behaviour caused by the lack of adequate rest and toilet facilities will spread and breaches of the Working Time Directive will increase.

The £25900 study was commissioned by three local councils, the Department for Transport and Dover Harbour Board because of the huge volume of trucks crossing the county to and from Dover and the Channel Tunnel.

The consultants warn that current demand for truck parking is for about 1,000 spaces per night but there are only 450 official spaces at motorway service areas and Ashford Truck stop — which is due to close within two years for redevelopmen 1.

Another 190 unofficial truck parking spaces were identified at lay-bys on major roads.

Faber Maunsell says the longer term solution to the problem must include new truck parks, but it warns that the private sector will be reluctant to set up new facilities in the area, partly because there is little return on selling fuel while it is cheaper across the Channel. It adds that the bodies commissioning the report must be ready to work together to identify a suitable site or sites for truck parks and to decide how the public sector will fund them if the private sector refuses to do so.

Mick Sutch, Kent County Council's head of planning and transport strategy, confirms that the Faber Maunsell report "identifies the magnitude of the current problem and the likely increased pressure on Kent in the future".

Tags

Organisations: Kent County Council
People: Mick Sutch

comments powered by Disqus