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A stack of cash
Page 20
Page 21
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Two years after container operators were promised a long-term solution to Suffolk's Operation Stack, the county council finally admits that the money for it doesn't exist.
chris.tindatifarbi.co.uk HAULIERS' HOPES for a long-term solution to the logistical nightmare that arises when Felixstowe Port closes and HGN's are turned away have been dashed after CM discovered the plans have been ditched.
In a shock admission from Guy McGregor. Suffolk county councillor and chairman of the Operation Stack steering group, he admits there is not enough money available to invest in long-term solutions such as a dedicated lorry park for container hauliers hound for the busy terminal.
Instead, another short-term proposal. which could involve continuing to direct lorries onto an A-road adjacent to the A14 into Felixstowe, is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
McGregor, who previously went on record to say he was "not prepared to have a long-term lorry park up on the A45". is now having to backtrack after most of the options put forward in order to solve the parking crisis created during Operation Stack turned out to be too expensive.
He adds: "The goal will be long-term. but the way we are working. the solution will have to be a short-term one, otherwise the money involved. I've been advised, is so great that Suffolk Council hasn't got the resources to provide a long-term solution.
This revelation will come as a blow to the hundreds of operators who regularly watch their schedules fly out of the window when poor weather conditions force the UK's largest container terminal to close.
A shortlist of solutions
Drivers will he unhappy. too. They regularly complain about the lack of facilities on the old A45 while they wait for the port to reopen.
Documents supplied to CM after a Freedom of Information request show the steering group charged with finding
a long-term solUllOn had created a shortlist of six options that were still being discussed at the end of February.
The list included buying a 1,000-plus lorry space greentield site within 20 minutes of the port, which would cost E125m excluding land costs. This was the port's preferred option.
Other ideas included purchasing two pieces of land close to the Orwell Crossing lorry park on the A14 for 123m that could park more than 700 lorries. The following two options focused on upgrading and/or expanding existing measures on the A45 a fraction of the cost of previous ideas.
The final idea and possibly the most controversial was to create a "transshipment" a reit. where containers would be dropped off. then shuttled direct to the port ('Drop-off zone could he stack alternative: '.11 II March). However, the documents also reveal doubts were being raised over a lack of money to fund any of these ideas.
Funding cuts In a He called: -Operation Stack LongTerm Arrangement' dated 25 February. the council says: "Demand for 'the' funding of major transport projects in the East of England far exceeds the indicative funding allocations currently available. In addition, there are indications from the Department for Transport (DIT) that [Regional Funding Allocations] may be cut after the next election and subsequent spending review.
McGregor won't confirm the council's only option now is to keep using the old A45 at Levington, but says: "That is one of the short-term solutions. There are still other options." However, Road Haulage As ( RHA) senior area manal steering group member Pete Hi that the A45 is seen as the on solution, despite the RHA opp "There's no way Suffolk Co afford £18m." he says. "From can gather, they favour exten old A45. But it's not big enough going down the cheapest optio
Preferred options It is understood the steering which is made up of local E, Highways Agency. RHA. pa port representativeshave bee to agree on any solution.
Paul Davey, head of corpora at Hutchison Ports, says it t. have a preferred option and 1 any idea that works best for al "including customers and hat& Suffolk police arc more opt what they want to see create Inspector Mike Bacon says: Constabulary would like k purpose-built site as close to as possible, which will no disruption to the public, meet ti of NOV drivers, and minir amount of police resources req But this looks increasingly tit
McGregor says he is clingin fact the announcement of yet short-term solution to a r problem in the east of Englar galvanise central government. Iwith public spending to be slas possibility is slim.
"The council. as a local auth( a highways authority is in a position," McGregor says. ' government should respond to "If the council can offer a sat solution in the short-term, the is really put on central govt through the DIE to devise a bet term solution." •
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